I've always been a huge fan of history and museums so when my family and I traveled down south last year, we were encouraged to stop and check out the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial.  In honor of the 25th anniversary, I'd like to share some reasons why you should definitely visit the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial; but in case you're not completely aware of the backstory, here's a synopsis from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

On the morning of April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh parked a rented Ryder truck in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. Inside the vehicle was a bomb made out of a deadly cocktail of agricultural fertilizer, diesel fuel, and other chemicals. McVeigh got out, locked the door, and headed towards his getaway car. He ignited one timed fuse, then another. At precisely 9:02 a.m., the bomb exploded. Within moments, the surrounding area looked like a war zone. A third of the building had been reduced to rubble, with many floors flattened like pancakes. Dozens of cars were incinerated and more than 300 nearby buildings were damaged or destroyed. The human toll was still more devastating: 168 souls lost, including 19 children, with several hundred more injured. Read the full article here. 

The outdoor memorial, dedicated on April 19, 2000, is a serene place that honors those who were lost, those who survived, and those who changed forever.  The Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial words it perfectly; The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial is a place of quiet reflection. It honors those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever on April 19, 1995. It encompasses the now-sacred soil where the Murrah Building once stood, as well as the surrounding area devastated by the attack. The Memorial is open 24 hours, 365 days a year. 

Get more information on the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial