-
Step 1
Plan a visit during any season but winter. Since most of the exhibits are located outside, the chilly Oklahoma weather, with possible snow cover, will diminish the experience.
-
Step 2
Locate the memorial on any Oklahoma City map. It is imperative that the visitor parks on the southern side of the memorial and enters the grounds via the 9:01 Gate. Once inside, the visitor will see a reflecting pool and the second gate facing Harvey Avenue. That gate is the 9:03 Gate. Both gates symbolize the 2 minutes of terror.
-
Step 3
View the Survivor Wall before walking amongst the Field of Empty Chairs. Each chair is named for those who died in the explosion. The smaller chairs represent those children who were at daycare that morning.
-
Step 4
Walk among the Children's Orchard and view the artwork on display by students coming to terms with the event.
-
Step 5
Walk through the Rescuers' Orchard as well. This honors the first responders who worked to save many more lives.
-
Step 6
Stop at the terrace and the Survivor Tree. This American elm withstood the blast and is a lasting testament to the strength of the city.
-
Step 7
Stop at the Memorial Museum and learn in detail the events leading up to the explosion. Timothy McVeigh is profiled here, but more importantly, the dead are honored in print as well. Look for the images of firemen carrying out scarred survivors.
-
Step 8
Look for the chain link fence located along Harvey Avenue. Here, a makeshift memorial of flowers, notes and other remembrances are placed by the families of the victims and the residents of Oklahoma City. Smiling faces of daycare children who were lost in the destruction can be emotionally devastating.
