When Did the Oklahoma City Bombing Occur?
The Oklahoma City bombing took place on April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m. Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, killing 168 people, including 19 children in the building's daycare center. It remained the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history until September 11, 2001.
What Happened That Morning
McVeigh parked a rented Ryder truck filled with approximately 5,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate and nitromethane in front of the Murrah Building on NW 5th Street. The explosion destroyed or damaged 324 buildings within a 16-block radius and shattered windows up to 55 blocks away. The blast killed 168 people: 163 workers and visitors in the building, three first responders (two Oklahoma City firefighters and one rescue worker), and two people in nearby structures. The 19 children, ages ranging from three months to five years, died in the America's Kids daycare center on the second floor.
McVeigh, 27, was arrested within 90 minutes by an Oklahoma Highway Patrol officer. His co-conspirator, Terry Nichols, was arrested later. McVeigh was convicted of 11 federal counts, sentenced to death, and executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001, at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. Nichols received a life sentence without parole.
The Immediate Response and Investigation
The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded within minutes, but the destruction was catastrophic. Of the 168 victims, rescue workers recovered survivors from the rubble over 16 days. The final survivor, Genaro Flores, was pulled from the debris on April 27, six days after the blast. The search for bodies continued for weeks; the last victim was recovered on May 4.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the criminal investigation, designated OKBOMB. Agents traced the Ryder truck rental, tracked McVeigh's movements, and identified Nichols through his involvement in purchasing ammonium nitrate. The investigation involved coordination between federal, state, and local agencies, including the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and Oklahoma City Police Department.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
Today, visitors can learn the complete history at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, located at 620 North Harvey Avenue, three blocks from the original bombing site. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and military, and $8 for children ages 6 to 12. Children under 6 enter free. The museum houses artifacts, survivor testimonies, and detailed documentation of the event and its aftermath.
The outdoor Memorial, free to visit year-round, features the Reflecting Pool and 168 empty bronze and stone chairs, each engraved with a victim's name. The chairs are arranged in nine rows, representing the nine floors of the Murrah Building where people worked or visited. Five chairs are smaller, honoring the youngest victims.
Why April 19
McVeigh chose April 19 deliberately. He selected the anniversary of the 1993 siege at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, which ended when federal agents entered the building and a fire killed 76 people, including children. McVeigh viewed the government action as tyrannical and intended the bombing as retaliation. The Oklahoma City bombing fundamentally shifted public and federal attention to domestic terrorism as a significant national security threat.
Historical Context in Oklahoma City
The bombing's impact on Oklahoma City's recovery is documented through public records and city planning archives. The city developed downtown revitalization plans in the years following 1995, though residents and historians debate whether reconstruction honored the loss adequately or moved too quickly. The decision to preserve the empty lot where the Murrah Building stood, rather than rebuild, reflects ongoing community values around memorial space.
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and Oklahoma Historical Society maintain archival materials related to the bombing, including oral histories and documentation of the investigation. These resources are available to researchers at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.
Related Questions
Where exactly was the Murrah Building located? The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building stood at 200 NW 5th Street in downtown Oklahoma City. The structure was demolished in 1995; the site is now the outdoor Oklahoma City National Memorial.
Can I visit the Oklahoma City bombing memorial? Yes. The Oklahoma City National Memorial is open daily and free to visitors. The accompanying museum charges admission and operates set hours; check the official website for current details.
How many people were injured in the bombing? Approximately 680 people were injured by the blast, with injuries ranging from minor lacerations to severe burns and crush injuries.
