The main reason I wanted to go to Oklahoma City was to see the OKC bombing memorial - it was even on my 33-list to see it......Soooo.......
Outside the museum grounds, the fence was adorned with all kind of items in memory of the victims who died there......
I was surprised that the fence was as decorated as it was, being that it was 16 years ago, but it was very touching.......
Here's the spot where the Government building used to stand, and now it is a reflecting pool/monument, as well as the individual chairs for each victim.
Very quiet, very moving to see it.....the chairs are arranged in rows based on what floor each victim was on when the bomb went off. That's why the rows aren't of equal length.
It was Memorial Day weekend, so some of the chairs had decorations on them from loved ones.
The flags were a beautiful touch....
This is a close-up of the chairs - each one had the person's full name engraved on the glass bottom part.
I have never been to a memorial site/museum that was as tastefully and professionally done as this one. Hats off to OKC for doing a fantastic job!
This reflecting pool had a big wall at each end - one of them said "9:01" and the other said "9:03" - the bombing happened at 9:02.....
It was a very somber and respect-filled place.....
A street was located right where the reflecting pool now is. The government building that was bombed is on the other side of the reflecting pool in this picture below.
Absolutely stunning - and very symbolic. It was obvious that a LOT of thought and planning went into this memorial site.
I would like to say that I "loved" the experience, but that sounds so wrong, considering the reason for it being there.....but I really appreciated the effort that went into making it a learning and mourning place for visitors.
Here's what the landscape looked like before the bombing.....
And the site today.........
This is something that rescue workers spray painted on the adjacent building during the aftermath......and it was left up there. You can see it from the memorial site........
Very well done, Oklahoma City! Kudos to you!
Outside the museum grounds, the fence was adorned with all kind of items in memory of the victims who died there......
I was surprised that the fence was as decorated as it was, being that it was 16 years ago, but it was very touching.......
Here's the spot where the Government building used to stand, and now it is a reflecting pool/monument, as well as the individual chairs for each victim.
Very quiet, very moving to see it.....the chairs are arranged in rows based on what floor each victim was on when the bomb went off. That's why the rows aren't of equal length.
It was Memorial Day weekend, so some of the chairs had decorations on them from loved ones.
The flags were a beautiful touch....
This is a close-up of the chairs - each one had the person's full name engraved on the glass bottom part.
I have never been to a memorial site/museum that was as tastefully and professionally done as this one. Hats off to OKC for doing a fantastic job!
This reflecting pool had a big wall at each end - one of them said "9:01" and the other said "9:03" - the bombing happened at 9:02.....
It was a very somber and respect-filled place.....
A street was located right where the reflecting pool now is. The government building that was bombed is on the other side of the reflecting pool in this picture below.
Absolutely stunning - and very symbolic. It was obvious that a LOT of thought and planning went into this memorial site.
I would like to say that I "loved" the experience, but that sounds so wrong, considering the reason for it being there.....but I really appreciated the effort that went into making it a learning and mourning place for visitors.
Here's what the landscape looked like before the bombing.....
And the site today.........
This is something that rescue workers spray painted on the adjacent building during the aftermath......and it was left up there. You can see it from the memorial site........
Very well done, Oklahoma City! Kudos to you!
