Oklahoma City National Memorial

OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL



This is the mission statement of the Oklahoma City National Memorial, a designated National Park comprised of three distinct components. The Memorial Dedication was held on April 19, 2000 - the five-year anniversary of the attack.

THE SYMBOLIC MEMORIAL
Designed by Butzer Design Partnership, this Memorial honors the victims, survivors, rescuers and all who were changed forever on April 19. It encompasses the now-sacred soil where the Murrah Building once stood, capturing and preserving forever the place and events that changed the world.
The design was selected in an international competition including 624 entries submitted from every state and 23 countries. The winning design was chosen by a committee comprised of family members, survivors, rescuers, civic leaders and design professionals.

REFLECTING POOL
The pool occupies what was once N.W. Fifth Street. Here, a shallow depth of gently flowing water is intended to help soothe wounds, with calming sounds providing a peaceful setting for quiet thoughts. Visitors may see their own reflection, a face of someone changed forever.

FIELD OF EMPTY CHAIRS
These 168 chairs stand as a poignant reminder of each life-lost, articulated as the absence felt by family members and friends. The chairs are placed in nine rows, representing the nine floors of the building. The chairs are placed according to the floor on which those killed worked or were visiting.
The symbolic chairs are designed in two sizes, the smaller size representing the absence of 19 children. Each chair is crafted of bronze and stone; its glass base is etched with the name of a victim. By day, the chairs seem to float above their translucent bases. By night, the glass bases illuminate as beacons of hope.
The Field's perimeter matches the footprint of the former Murrah Federal Building. It is lined by a granite path - granite that was salvaged from the building.
"...May This Memorial Offer Comfort, Strength, Peace, Hope and Serenity."


CHILDREN'S AREA
In the aftermath of the blast, countless expressions of encouragement were received from children. A wall of hand-0painted tiles sent to Oklahoma City in 1995 by children illustrates that caring. In addition, a series of chalkboards creates an oversized display of these works where children can continue to share their feelings - an important component of the healing process.

RESCUERS' ORCHARD
Like the people who rushed in from near and far to lend a helping hand, this army of fruit - and flower - bearing trees surrounds and protects the Survivor Tree.

THE SURVIVOR TREE
The Survivor Tree, an American Elm, bears witness to the violence of April 19 and now stands as a profound symbol of human resilience. The circular promontory surrounding the tree offers a place for gathering and viewing the Memorial.

OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL CENTER
The Memorial center, an interactive learning museum, occupies the west end of the former Journal Record Building. Built in 1923, this building withstood the bombing and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Memorial Center's 30,000 square feet include the Permanent Exhibit, the Temporary Exhibit Gallery, the Children's Exhibit, the Memorial Registry, the Memorial Store, the Memorial Archives and Administration Offices. The Permanent Exhibit includes a portion of a bomb-damaged office from the Journal Record Building, and will enable visitors to witness first-hand the magnitude of destruction. The exhibit covers two floors and includes dramatic audio-visual elements, poignant documentation and artifacts, as well as interactive stations for individual inquiry.

OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL INSTITUTE FOR THE PREVENTION OF TERRORISM
The Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT) is a living memorial to those affected by what happened here. MIPT's mission is to deter and prevent terrorism and to mitigate its effects.
MIPT carries out that mission by sponsoring conferences on terrorism and research in several areas. While MIPT makes helping first responders - police, fire, emergency medical and urban search and rescue personnel - a priority, research efforts include technologies intended of MIPT accomplishments and plans can be found on their Web site at
www.mipt.org.