Visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum: What to Know Before You Go

I still remember where I was when I first learned about the Oklahoma City bombing in ’95. I was a confused 2nd grader trying to figure out what the stack of boxes were on TV as the news played in our school library. I didn’t understand why the teachers were crying. I would later come to understand that it was the remains of a destroyed building – not a stack of boxes that my 8 year old mind was trying to make sense of.

I put together some common questions and answers below that may be helpful before you go. Your visit will be an experience that you won’t soon forget.

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

A symbol of tragedy and a tribute to all those affected – this landmark is a must-see for anyone visiting the Oklahoma City area.

After the bombing that killed 168 people on April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City worked to rebuild the entire area affected by the heinous terrorist attack. It’s meant to be as a place where visitors can pay their respects and see how the bombing affected our entire state, even to this day.

It recently went through a $10 million upgrade, adding new technology and exhibits, and consists of many artifacts that tell the story, from tragedy to healing.

Some of what you’ll see…

When you first get onto the premises of the memorial, take a moment of silence at the Reflection Pool before making your way over to the Field of Empty Chairs. It is there, you’ll see 168 chairs representing the number of victims that died in the tragedy, laid out in 9 rows to represent the 9 floors of the Murrah building.

survivor tree at the oklahoma city national memorial

Survivor Tree – (Credit: User:Dual Freq, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

From there, head over to the granite that makes up the Survivor wall on your way to Survivor Tree, which overlooks the memorial.

Now, you’re ready to make your way inside the Memorial Museum, which is made up of 10 chapters that will educate you on the history of the tragic event.

Throughout the chapters, visitors can hear the live audio themselves that was recorded during an Oklahoma Water Resources Board meeting. In addition to the recording, you’ll hear the news and helicopter footage taken outside of the building following the days of the event.

From there, you’ll be able to see artifacts and footage of the survivors’ stories. Then you’ll continue to see the many letters that came in from all across the country.

The following chapters contain personal photos, items, and featured biographies chosen by the victims’ families.

Then you’ll enter an area where you’ll hear stories about the impact that the bombing had on Oklahoma City and the many weeks, months, and years towards its healing journey.

You’ll soon be led into the next chapter where you’ll learn about the process of the investigation and conviction, along with crime scene photos and evidence pieced together by law enforcement.

In the final chapter, you’ll be able to view the OKC skyline with a full visual of how the city came together to rebuild and overcome during the years following the tragedy.

How much does it cost to get into the Memorial?

The outside of the Memorial is free to the public and available to visit any time of the day, all days of the year. The cost for tickets to get into the museum are $15, but discounts are available for military, seniors, and students. Children under 5 are free.