Vacation Ideas: The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

nThe Memorial and Museum was created to honor those killed, those survived and those changed forever by the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The Memorial and Museum is located at 620 North Harvey Avenue in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.nnThe Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was the target of the most significant act of domestic terrorism on American soil. The building contained regional government offices for the Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms, and Explosives, and other agencies.nnApril 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh planted explosives inside a rental truck parked in front of the Federal Building, which created a massive explosion at 9:02 a.m. and destroyed the entire north side of the building. The explosion left 168 people dead.nnFollowing investigations and the recovery of victims’ bodies, the remaining structure was demolished on May 23, 1995. The entire site subsequently became home to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The site is unique. It has become a haven for all those seeking comfort and serenity from the violence that took place on April 19, 1995 as well as educating others about the effects of violence.nnHours of OperationnnThe Outdoor Symbolic Memorial is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Memorial Museum is open Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.nnAdmission Costnn• Adults $10n• Senior (62+) $8n• Student (6-17 or college student with current ID) $6n• 5 years and under is freen• Groups rates are available for student groups of 10 or more or adult groups of 20 or morennTelephone: 404-5235-3313. Toll Free: 1-888-542-HOPEnnExhibits include:nn• A chronological, self-guided tour through the story of April 19, 1995, the days, weeks and years that followed the bombing of Oklahoma City’s Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. It is told in chapters taking visitors through the event beginning early morning April 19, 1995 and ending with a message of hope.n• Chapter 1: Background on Terrorismn• Chapter 2: History of the Siten• Chapter 3A: The Hearingn• Chapter 3B: Confusionn• Chapter 4A: Chaosn• Chapter 4B: Survivor Experiencesn• Investigation Story: The First Hoursn• Chapter 5A: World Reactionn• Chapter 5B: Rescue and Recoveryn• Investigation Story: The First Daysn• Chapter 6: Watching and Waitingn• Chapter 7A: Gallery of Honorn• Investigation Story: The First Yearn• Chapter 8: Impactn• Chapter 9: Behind the Scene: The OK Bomb Investigationn• Chapter 10: HopennChildren’s Area & ClassroomnnThis is a space designed to teach children about the impact of violence.nnSpecial Exhibit HallnnOn a semi-annual basis, special exhibits relating to the Memorial’s Mission rotate through the Special Exhibit Hall. Current exhibit on display at time of this article writing is: nn• Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil WarnnExhibit beginning January 12, 2008 will be:nn• Sharing Hope: One Stitch at a TimennSource: Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Onlinenn Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for formulating vacation ideas.nnnnThis article is FREE to publish with the resource box.nn© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reservednn