View Full Version : Memorial Museum Floods



Karried
01-16-2009, 05:45 PM
This is so sad:

http://newsok.com/burst-pipe-shutters-oklahoma-city-national-memorial-museum/article/3338511?custom_click=headlines_widget


A broken water pipe flooded parts of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Oklahoma+City+National+Memorial+Museum&CATEGORY=ORGANIZATION) today, forcing officials to close the museum as they assess the damage.

Water poured into the museum after a pipe feeding an air handler on the roof burst about 11 a.m. “We are working around the clock to clean and repair the museum, and are very hopeful to be back up and running within a week,” director Kari Watkins (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Kari+Watkins&CATEGORY=PERSON) said. “We are taking all the precautions we can so that we do not lose any of the valuable artifacts that tell the story of hope and resilience this community has set as the standard of response to terrorism around the world.”

ssandedoc
01-16-2009, 09:38 PM
Thankfully no artifacts that we know of have been damaged. But there is damage to carpet, walls, and electronics. They won't know exactly what was lost until things dry next week. Very fortunate this happened during the day and not at night because staff quickly moved artifacts. The Memorial did put up this news bit and video:

http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/secondary.php?section=15&catid=191&id=308

ssandedoc
02-04-2009, 09:41 PM
Tomorrow at 9am the OKC National Memorial Museum reopens!!!

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum – Official Website (http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/secondary.php?section=15&catid=191&id=324)


Memorial Museum to Reopen Thursday, February 5th

February 03, 2009

Preparations are almost complete for the Memorial Museum to reopen to the public Thursday, February 5. Local media were on hand today to see the artifacts being reinstalled and to see the restoration work.

There will be a reopening celebration on Saturday, February 7, to welcome visitors back. The Oklahoma City Thunder is providing vouchers good for tickets to upcoming games for the first 250 paid Memorial Museum admissions this Saturday to celebrate the reopening.

"We are honored to participate in the reopening celebration for the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The Memorial is an important community partner of the Thunder," said Dan Mahoney, Vice President, Corporate Communications and Community Relations, Oklahoma City Thunder. "We are excited it is ready to continue its mission of honoring those who were lost and those whose lives were changed forever."

Thunder players Desmond Mason and Nenad Krstic will be on hand Saturday, February 7, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., to sign autographs and celebrate the reopening.

More than 10,000 square feet of Museum exhibit areas, the Archives and the Memorial’s Center for Education & Outreach were damaged in a flood caused by a mechanical malfunction three weeks ago. Over 370 artifacts and/or boxes of artifacts were threatened by the flooding. Thanks to the quick actions of Memorial staff and volunteers, no artifacts were lost or damaged. Artifacts that were removed from cases while walls dried and repairs were made were replaced today.

"We’ve turned many people away," said Kari Watkins, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Executive Director. "We know there are people who have traveled to Oklahoma in the last couple of weeks just to see the Memorial, and we are disappointed they did not get to experience the story of what happened here in the Museum. We’ve worked hard to get the doors back open as quickly as possible and are pleased to be at this point."



Also, timeline of events:
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum – Official Website (http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/secondary.php?section=15&catid=191&id=325)


I'm just glad we're open again!

oneforone
02-12-2009, 02:46 AM
Signing Autographs at the OKC National Memorial? That is just wrong. What is next autograph signings at a graveside service.

metro
02-12-2009, 07:36 AM
In fairness, the article said they were doing it to "celebrate the re-opening." It's not like they were out their like Billy Sims at the mall selling autographs for $25 a pop.

kevinpate
02-12-2009, 09:39 AM
but was there any free boomer-q?

Richard at Remax
02-12-2009, 09:43 AM
The memorial is run off of private donations and whatever the musuem hauls in. If it takes a few thunder players to get some more people down there, then so be it.

ssandedoc
02-13-2009, 01:01 AM
Signing Autographs at the OKC National Memorial? That is just wrong. What is next autograph signings at a graveside service.

The site is meant to be a place of remembrance but also a celebration of life. It's not a cemetery.

oneforone
02-13-2009, 02:55 AM
The site is meant to be a place of remembrance but also a celebration of life. It's not a cemetery.

Oh in that case let's encourage the Memorial Management to start booking weddings, bar-mitzvahs, dance parties, company picnics, proms and family reunions. Better yet let's get a corporate name put on the Memorial. I can see it know "The :) Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Oklahoma City National Memorial". We could add a Supercenter next door so that the average visitor could mourn, reflect, pickup diapers, milk, eggs, get their oil changed all in one visit.

Seriously...... The OKC National Memorial should be treated in the same manner they treat the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and Pearl Harbor. It is not the Cowboy Hall of Fame or Bricktown. April 19, 1995 was a dark day in Oklahoma History. There are some of us that remember that day as if it were yesterday. The events took place that evening and the following days made me realize that Oklahoma is my home and there is no other place I want to be.

A memorial is no place for the signing of autographs or any other casual event for that matter. They could have easily held that event at the Ford Center or one of the downtown hotels.

Yet they wonder why only a few locals visit the Memorial each year.

ssandedoc
02-13-2009, 07:44 AM
If I recall there has been a survivor who had their wedding under the survivor tree. If you look at the mission statement developed by survivors and victim's family members:

We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.


To me the mission statement means you remember the horror of that day, but see the good that came from the outpouring of local, national, and worldwide support. Finally, life goes on and having life on the Memorial and in museum is appropriate.

Why don't more Oklahomans visit the museum? Because people are usually their own worst tourist in their backyard. The people here lived through that day, and some have a hard time re-experiencing it. Most working people would rather do something else on their weekend, with such little time to do everything as it is.