When Did the Oklahoma City Bombing Occur?

The Oklahoma City bombing happened on April 19, 1995. A truck bomb detonated outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City at 9:02 a.m., killing 168 people, including 19 children in the building's day care center. Timothy McVeigh carried out the attack; he was executed by federal injection in 2001. Terry Nichols, his co-conspirator, received a life sentence.

What Happened That Day

McVeigh parked a rented Ryder truck containing approximately 5,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate and nitromethane in front of the nine-story federal building. The explosion destroyed the building's north half, damaged 324 surrounding structures, and shattered windows up to two miles away. Rescue and recovery efforts continued for 16 days. The blast killed federal employees, visitors, Social Security applicants, and children attending the America's Kids day care center on the building's second floor.

The attack was the deadliest domestic act of terrorism in U.S. history at the time, later surpassed by the September 11, 2001 attacks. McVeigh's primary stated motive was retaliation for the 1993 federal siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, which resulted in 76 deaths.

The Investigation and Arrests

The FBI launched one of its largest investigations, code-named OKBOMB. McVeigh was arrested 90 minutes after the blast during a traffic stop near the Kansas border. Nichols turned himself in five days later. A third person initially detained, Michael Fortier, pleaded guilty to failing to warn authorities and testifying in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Federal and Oklahoma City police secured the crime scene, documented evidence, and identified remains. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office processed victim identifications with assistance from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory. Unidentified remains were eventually buried in a common grave at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

The Trial and Execution

McVeigh's federal trial began in Denver in 1997 to avoid local prejudice. He was convicted on 11 federal counts, including eight counts of murder of federal employees, and sentenced to death. His appeal was exhausted by 2001. He was executed at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana on June 11, 2001. Nichols was tried in state court in Oklahoma County in 2004 and convicted of 161 counts of murder; he received a life sentence without parole.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial

The site where the Murrah Building stood is now home to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The memorial opened to the public in 2000 and is located at 620 North Harvey Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City. The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial features 168 empty chairs (one for each victim) arranged in nine rows representing the building's nine floors. A reflecting pool, bronze gates, and landscape elements mark the space.

The museum is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. (hours vary seasonally; verify before visiting). General admission is $15 for adults; discounts are available for seniors, military, and children. The museum's exhibits include recovered artifacts, survivor accounts, photographs, and video documentation. A voluntary donation supports the organization.

Visitors can also view the Survivor Tree, a 80-year-old American elm that stood near the building, damaged but not killed in the blast. The tree became a symbol of resilience and recovery and remains on the memorial grounds.

Legacy and Impact

The bombing prompted significant changes in federal building security nationwide. The Murrah Building's rubble was carefully removed; the final piece, a section of exterior wall with the imprint of a child's hand, was preserved. The Oklahoma Standard, a term that emerged after the bombing to describe the community's response of unity and compassion, influenced disaster relief protocols adopted by FEMA and other agencies.

April 19 is observed annually as Oklahoma City Memorial Day. The anniversary ceremony at the memorial typically occurs at 9:02 a.m., the exact time of the explosion, and is attended by survivors, family members of victims, first responders, and community members.

The attack significantly influenced national conversations about domestic terrorism, radicalism, and federal law enforcement response. Academic institutions, including the University of Oklahoma's Center for the Study of Mass Violence, have studied the bombing's causes and aftermath.