While visiting this fine city, admittedly I had completely forgotten about this event from the '90's, and certainly had not considered that there was a memorial in place. So we visited. First, it was cold - And windy. Maybe I hadn't mentioned that about this time of year in Oklahoma.
The Memorial is rather extradordinary once you wrap your brain around it, and geographically get your bearings. We chose not to tour the Museum itself; for one we weren't prepared for a $20 pp charge, and two we had a time factor to pay attention to. Also, admittedly - and maybe this is hardhearted, but you're hearing me admit this right here and now - I don't do well with events or circumstances meant to deliberately tug my heartstrings in a graphical kind of way (baby shoes and burnt purses, for example) ... as a way to remember a horrible event. We headed outdoors to walk around the grounds in the cold and wind. There are two huge walls on either end of a reflecting pond which is a replacement for what used to be the through street.
One wall is inscribed with "9:01" - before the event, and the other with "9:03" - after the event. It is impressive, particularly at night with light shining through it. 
On the actual site of the destroyed building sit chairs representing each person who lost their life. They too are lit up in the evening and it makes for a rather humble and innocent representation of this tragedy. The foundation still stands, as well as the courtyard serving as the original entrance from street. According to the local residents, the thunderous boom could be heard and felt over 5 miles from the site.
If you haven't already been here, put this on your to do list for the next time you find yourself in Oklahoma City.
note: pictures taken from the internet as it was too cold to hold the camera still enough to take my own picture ... much less from a hundred feet in the air.
Definitely a place I still need to visit.
Posted by: Tulip Girl | Jan 04, 2008 at 07:12 PM