From great tragedy arose great awareness – and the opportunity to rise to the occasion and be the difference.
On April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City, its residents and the whole country were forever changed when a blast exploded from a rental truck downtown at 9:02 a.m in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The blast killed 168, including 19 children, and left more than 650 injured.
This horrendous act of domestic terrorism was meant to tear a city apart, but in reality brought people closer together. Fearless citizens rushed to help, first responders came from around the country to join the two-week rescue efforts and leaders took on the burden of supporting a heartbroken city.
“The bombing permanently changed our city, families were changed forever, first responders carried what they witnessed and a generation grew up shaped by that day,” says Payton Bell, the Media Engagement Coordinator at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. “Alongside the pain came a stronger sense of compassion, resilience and responsibility for one another. In the face of tragedy, neighbors stepped up to help, strangers supported each other and service became central to our identity.”
In the aftermath, former Mayor Ron Norick appointed a 350-member Memorial Task Force that included family members of those killed, survivors and volunteers with expertise ranging from mental health, law and the arts, to fundraising, business, communications and government, to develop a memorial to honor those affected by this event.
What was once the footprint of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Fifth Street, the Athenian Building and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board building is now the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, consisting of the museum itself, as well as the Field of Empty Chairs, the Reflecting Pool and Rescuers’ Orchard, including the Survivor Wall and The Survivor Tree, along with the Children’s Area and The Fence.
“We are intentional about keeping the stories of the 168 people who were killed alive in meaningful and personal ways,” says Bell. “Inside the museum, the story of April 19, 1995, is told in chapters, guiding visitors through the events of that day, the aftermath and the powerful journey of resilience and hope that followed.”
The Memorial and Museum, a private non-profit organization, is also dedicated to educating visitors about the impact of violence and terrorism, informing about events surrounding the bombing and inspiring hope and healing through lessons learned by those affected.
The Memorial Complex is sacred ground – a hallowed place deserving of the respect and solemnity associated with great loss.
In addition to the standing memorial structures, each year, the museum has a Remembrance Ceremony on April 19 and also hosts the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon – held to celebrate life, honor the memories of those killed and unite the world in hope.
The marathon takes place April 24-26. There’s a race and a distance for everyone, from walker to first-time competitor to elite runner. The Run to Remember takes participants through downtown Oklahoma City and is packed with spectator support.
April 19, 1995, altered the face of Oklahoma – and the nation – forever, and from this came the Oklahoma Standard, a statewide initiative preserving and promoting a culture of caring citizens by encouraging acts of service, honor and kindness as the model by which Oklahomans live their lives in response to the needs of their neighbors, fellow citizens and communities.
What was once the site of the largest domestic terrorist attack on American soil has become a sacred place to remember, educate and learn.
