6-18-09 Thursday (Off to See the Wizard)

We got an early start to the day.  Wanting to see the museum that was closed last night, we returned to the Oklahoma City Memorial.  This was an absolutely well done museum and tribute to the survivors and the victims of the bombing.  It took us 2 hours to go through the exhibits which they call chapters:

Background on Terrorism

History of the Site

A Hearing

Confusion

Chaos

Survivor Experiences

World Reactions

Rescue and Recovery

Watching and Waiting

Gallery of Honor

Funerals and Mourning

Impact

Behind the Scene: The OK Bomb Investigation

Hope 

If you want a description of each chapter, click here.

It starts becoming harder to hold back emotion as we began going further into the time line.  I think it happened with stepping into a room (Chapter: A Hearing) to hear the official recording of an Oklahoma Water Resources Board meeting which was just across the street from the Murrah Federal building.  The meeting started at 9am, the bombing at 9:02.  From this chapter forward, both Jim and I were emotional wrecks.

Seeing real items from the wreckage such as shoes, watches, keys, toys… very powerful.  No photos were permitted inside.  I type this and feel as though I’m there still. 

We bought our Oklahoma ornament here and paid more ($25.00) than we typically would – it was well worth it. The picture shows a bear (symbolizing comfort from the April 23, 1995 memorial service) which is sitting on a chair from the Field of Empty Chairs.  Proceeds benefit the memorial.

I could go on about the memorial.  I already have, you say?  Yeah, I know.  Here’s some exterior photos:

Above: The fencing they erected to keep people out of the rubble became incorporated into the memorial itself since so many people left items to remember the victims.  Years later, items are still left behind daily.

 

Above: School children made these tiles.  Chalk boards on the ground for all to scribble a message.

 

Above: The pool is about an inch deep.

 

Above: This tree is the memorial’s symbol.  It survived the bombing.

 

Above: The Journal Records building now serves as the museum.  The photo side of this building is being preserved as it was damaged by the bombing which is close to where I stood to take the photo.

 

Above: Foreground = Reflecting Pool.  Background = Field of Empty Chairs.

We came home, walked Dasher, and then went for a stroll through the Myriad Botanical Gardens.  It was right in the downtown area yet so pretty and peaceful.  Admission was $6.00 each.  We had a buy one/get one coupon.  Yay for coupons!  There was a cool tunnel thingy they call the Crystal Bridge that is a tropical green house of sorts.  The structure was interesting and the plants and flowers within were pretty.  It reminded me of the Biosphere 2. 

Above: The Crystal Bridge thingy was supposed to be a story book setup but it was pretty sparse.

 

Above: I kid you not.  There were 2 entrances into the Crystal Bridge so Jim asked which one?  The guy at the counter replied, “Follow the Yellow Brick Road”. 

 

Above: The sign above my head warns “Beware of troll”.  The gay reader will think it more funny than the hetero’s.

 

Above: Still up in the Crystal Bridge which has a few levels.

 

Above: Jim tried to follow directions but couldn’t reach.  The frog was of no help.  I think Frog could have met Jim 1/2 way!

 

Above: What the hell is the Travelocity Gnome doing here?

 

Above: Exterior of the Crystal Bridge we were just in.

 

Here’s a couple of photos of the RV park:

Above: This is the view from our door down to the clubhouse.

 

Above: A view up the street.

Above: Our map!

I’m not done yet.  We did more stuff.  Next stop was to “Bricktown”.  Bricktown is a revitalized downtown entertainment district area.  They basically have taken some roads, made them into canals, remodeled old buildings, and lined the canal with things to do.  It’s ingenious and I love it. 

We took a water taxi ride.  Some pros/cons about it: $7.50 each for all day use.  Doesn’t go in a loop so the driver has to turn around.  The driver explains everything/history of what we saw.  Some canal areas very tight – didn’t they create the canal for this – who screwed it up?  It was more of a tour than a taxi.

The city’s website for Bricktown is cool with gobs of info and a photo gallery to see what I’m talking about.  I took a few pictures but as the sun set, the photos are horrible.  Here they are:

Above: The tourguide said the upper floors of the shops are condos that went for $300k plus.

 

Above: Gotta love the U-Haul truck on top of the U-Haul building.  Lights shine on it and as it spun around.

 

Above: In the canal.

 

Above: From one of the foot bridges to the canal.  I took the photo because of the purple flowers in the tree.

 

Above: This is where we get onto the boat.