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Of all the tasks confronting the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, |
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Light bulbs. So small and seemingly insignificant, and yet without them, the Gates of Time, the Museum and each of the 168 chairs would all stand dark. It costs nearly $40,000 annually, in light bulbs alone, to keep the 50,000 square-foot
Museum and 3.3-acre Outdoor Symbolic Memorial grounds lit in remembrance. |
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The grounds of the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial are home to 86 trees. Loblollys, Redbuds, Maples, Chinese Pistaches, and the Survivor Tree - the American Elm that bore witness to the bombing - each requires unique, customized and continuous care. Symbols of our resilience, renewal, and rebirth, they protect the grounds. Without their hopeful presence, the loss sustained would echo. The soft carpet of Zoysia grass blanketing the earth below hides scars and provides a gentle place to sit and reflect. 365 days a year, the trees and the grass are meticulously attended to and cultivated. |
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The bronze Gates of Time, anchoring each end of the Memorial, stand 56 feet wide, 48 feet tall, and 23 inches thick. The exterior bronze plates demand care and caulking to maintain their monumental presence. Lighting within the Gates, vulnerable to the elements, also requires constant attention. Etched with the time 9:01 and 9:03, symbolic of our innocence prior to the attack and our resilience in the aftermath, they frame the events of 9:02 am, April 19th, 1995. 70,000 gallons of water flow over four tons of polished black granite within the
Outdoor Symbolic Memorial Reflecting Pool. Made up of 1,080 granite tiles, the pool
is drained annually for specialized resealing and pressure washed to restore its luster.
Daily care keeps its gently flowing water free from debris, so its placid surface may reflect
those forever changed by their visit. Calming sounds provide a peaceful setting for Maintaining, protecting, and preserving the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial comes at a price of more than $975,000 a year. |
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Keeping the experience engaging and the lessons relevant costs nearly $850,000 a year in educational outreach, exhibit conservation, ongoing development, and archival preservation. Custodial services, maintenance, 24-hour security, utilities, repairs, and operating expenditures total $1,587,695 a year. The 50,000 square-foot, interactive Memorial Museum includes 10 permanent exhibits outlining the events surrounding the bombing, as well as a Center for Education & Outreach, Archives, Research Library and Memorial Store. Preserved within its walls are more than 220,000 artifacts, 300,000 photographs, and 2,000 video recordings, which create a powerful and unforgettable experience detailing the inspiring contrast between the brutality of evil and the tenderness of the response. |
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Each year, more than 200,000 people visit the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial, many leaving a token of remembrance on the Chair of a loved one, or a symbol on the Fence that signifies, "We remember, and we'll never forget." From stuffed animals, shoes, key chains and flags, to photos, wreaths and personal messages, the mementos are as varied and unique as the people they represent. But because there is only so much room, over time they must come down to make way for new ones. Once collected, the artifacts are meticulously cleaned, cataloged and preserved. Thousands are viewed and studied by researchers, authors, and historians, and thousands more are shared with victims of terrorism around the world. To date, more than 68,000 keepsakes have been archived. As the official repository of nearly one million artifacts related to the event, our unique collections also include investigation and court documents, photographs, newspapers and correspondence from around the world and videos, as well as treasured personal items of those who were killed given to us to care for by their families. |
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They come to witness the impact of violence... Since its dedication on April 19th, 2000, more than 6 million people from 97 countries have walked the grounds of the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial – remembering where the Murrah Building once stood, honoring the 168 souls lost, and finding comfort in the infinite acts of kindness. More than 2 million visitors have experienced that day, minute by minute, as they walked through the chilling chaos and destruction depicted on the third floor of the Memorial Museum. Making the journey, room-by-room, to the second floor, they are uplifted by the stories of heroism, outpouring of support, and renewal through community rebuilding. More than a half million school children and teachers have engaged in the Museum's educational programs, recognizing that each life has meaning and importance, learning how individual acts contribute to violence, and cultivating ways to serve others. More than 150,000 people, from around the world, have participated in the annual Oklahoma City National Memorial Marathon since its inaugural race in 2001 – running to honor the memories of those who were lost, celebrate life, and unite the world in hope. ...they leave with the knowledge that evil did not prevail. |
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The annual cost to preserve and beautify the Oklahoma City National
