20 Jun
What? Lighthouses in Oklahoma? Well if there is one, we will find it! More about that later!
Today was a busy day. We started out here at the campground watching our oldest grandson Joe Ervin from Oak Creek WI, bowling in the National High School championship in Louisville KY. Through the marvels of modern technology, my daughter Michelle streamed the broadcast which we "cast" to our 50" TV here in the camper! So, not quite as nice as being there, but we had really good seats! We watched him yesterday competing in the team bowling and today was individuals. He did really good, but did not make the cut today so they headed home and we headed out for a day of sight-seeing. We are so proud of Joe and all of our grandkids!
Our first stop was the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. We were here in 2019 as I described before, but I really did not get to see anything. Today we toured the museum and then toured the outside memorial area.
At the entrance to the museum
The best word I can think of the describe it is "sobering". On 19 Apr 1995 a terrible act of domestic terrorism occurred here. A massive "fertilizer" bomb was detonated, killing 168 people at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building many of them children. I remembered it happening, but never saw the damage in person before, so the museum displays and videos really brought it home. I compare how this was presented with the Shanksville Flight 93 Memorial. It, too was sobering. Almost impossible to describe to someone that has never seen it. A few pictures:
Displays, videos and artifacts of the bombing
Damage to the Federal Building
The sign from the motel where Timothy McVeigh planned the bombing
The actual escape vehicle he used and was later caught
The weapons he was carrying when he was caught
The museum covered everything from before the bombing, the planning, what happened during and after the explosion, accounts of the survivors, the rescue and recovery efforts, the extensive investigation and prosecution, and creation of the memorial. There is so much more to it and my description here does not do it justice.
We then headed outside to the Memorial which occupies the soil where 168 victims perished. There is a huge reflection pool with two "Gates of Time", one labeled 9:01 symbolizing the innocence before the attack. The other one labeled 9:03 symbolizing the moment when healing began.
There is a large "Rescuer's Orchard" which is a stand of trees that "stand guard" over the "Survivor Tree" which is a century-old American Elm that symbolizes "strength and resilience".
The Survivor Tree
Promontory wall with a message of resolve, encircles the Survivor Tree and overlooks the Reflecting Pool and the Field of Empty Chairs
On the ground which was under the Federal Building is the Field of Empty Chairs, one of each person who was killed. Each is inscribed with their name. 19 smaller chairs represent the children that were killed.
There is a Survivor Wall with the names of over 600 who survived the blast. Also adjacent to that is the edge of the remaining walls of the building
On our way out we passed "The Fence", which was originally erected to "protect the footprint of the Federal Building", but quickly became a place for people to leave "tokens of love and hope", which they still do today.
In closing, if you ever get the opportunity to visit Oklahoma City suggest making a point to visit this great museum and memorial.
We left there and headed north past a couple unique structures. The first one is the Gold Dome, a geodesic dome which is a landmark on the old Route 66. It was built in 1958 and originally was the Citizen's State Bank.
Not far from the dome is the Milk Bottle Grocery. It was built in 1930 and is a grocery building with a large metal Braum's milk bottle atop its roof. The milk bottle was added in 1948.
It was getting to be lunch time so we headed down historic Route 66 and found the Iron Star Urban Barbecue. This restaurant was recommended by one of our Norwalk friends, Wes Day who is a retired math teacher and one who likely inspired our daughter Michelle to pursue the math teaching profession.
I did not take any main course pictures but Doreen had the BBQ Club sandwich with fries and I had the chopped beef brisket sandwich with a side of collard greens. The manager checked in with us to see if everything was OK and since we were from Iowa and here on a recommendation she comp'd us a bread pudding chocolate chip dessert which was really awesome! I did get a picture of it:
Totally stuffed, we departed the restaurant and drove north and west to Hefner Lake, There is a Bert Cooper trail that edges the lake and not far from there is a lighthouse
This lighthouse was constructed in 1999 and is 36 foot tall. It is a working replica of the second oldest lighthouse in the United States, the Brandt Point, located near Nantucket MA
Doreen at the lighthouse
A couple minks playing in the sunshine
From the Lighthouse we headed back to the campground and met the owners of the Alliance coach that has been parked right in front of us, Blane and Theresa Alsworth from Texas. They were just pulling out with their coach to drop it off at a deal to have some work done and plan to return Wednesday, so we should see them again before we depart.
Tomorrow we plan to visit the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and the Oklahoma Firefighter's Museum, and then possibly take in an Oklahoma Dodgers AAA baseball game tomorrow evening. "No rest for the wicked", you know!
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