Oklahoma City national memorial at night with chairs lit up
Been There Publications © 2015 / Christina Isaacs

The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum was designed to “…remember those who were killed, those who survived, and those changed forever” by the attack on April 19, 1995 and the events that followed.1

The Oklahoma City National Memorial is an affiliated site of the National Park Service. The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial grounds and the Memorial Museum are owned and operated by the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. The National Park Service entered into a cooperative agreement with the Memorial and Museum, a testament to the national significance and importance of the memorial to the United States of America. The National Park Service’s role at the Oklahoma City National Memorial is to provide interpretation of the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial.2

Junior Ranger Programs offered at this park:

The Oklahoma City National Memorial Junior Ranger Program is the only ongoing junior ranger program available at this park on a regular basis at this time.

Note:

  • In 2020, the park offered a 25th Anniversary Special Edition Junior Ranger Book and corresponding badge. This program is no longer available. It’s possible the park may have some of the anniversary badges remaining but they do not have any more printed copies of the booklet.
  • The park previously offered the Oklahoma Outdoor Ranger booklet and patch for Junior Rangers who visit all 3 NPS sites in Oklahoma. This program is being phased out and all 3 sites are completely out of the patch. The junior ranger booklet for this program is still on the park’s website. It can be downloaded and printed if you’d still like to complete it but there will be no reward available.

3 ways to access this park’s junior ranger booklet:

  1. In person:
    • Because the NPS does not own any of the land at this site, there is no visitor center. Junior ranger booklets may be obtained in person from a ranger on the grounds of the memorial during their on duty hours (see below).
  2. Print an online pdf:
  3. Request to have a physical copy mailed to you:
    • You may request by phone or email (both listed below) to have a booklet mailed to you from the park office. Be sure to include a mailing address and how many you need.

How to complete each program:

The Oklahoma City National Memorial junior ranger booklet is geared toward children of all ages, but adults are welcome to participate. There is one booklet for all ages.

Information to help you complete the activities can be found in a few ways:

  • Walk around the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial, view the elements of the memorial and read the interpretive signs.
  • Go on a self-guided Outdoor Symbolic Memorial Tour using the Site Guide on the park’s website at https://www.nps.gov/okci/planyourvisit/self-guided-tour.htm#Museum to learn about each element of the memorial, either in person or remotely.
  • Talk to a Park Ranger.
  • Attend a regularly scheduled interpretive program, available daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. See the park’s calendar of events for details.
  • The activities in the junior ranger booklets can all be completed by visiting the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial. It is not a requirement to visit the museum or necessary for completing any of the junior ranger activities.

3 ways to turn in your completed junior ranger booklet:

  1. Because the NPS does not own any of the land at this site, there is no visitor center. Junior ranger booklets may be turned in to a ranger on the grounds of the memorial during their on duty hours (see below).
  2. If you completed the booklet remotely, or you didn’t complete the book while at the park, or you weren’t able to turn it in while the Ranger was on duty, you may submit it by email. Send an email to larry_toll@nps.gov with pictures of your completed pages and a mailing address. The park will then mail you your badge.
  3. Or, If you are unable to complete the booklet while visiting the memorial or you completed it remotely, you may mail it to the park at: Attn: Junior Ranger 301 NW 6th Street, Suite 305, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. The Park Ranger will look it over, sign and date the certificate on the back and mail it back to you along with the badge. Don’t forget to include a mailing address in your request.

Estimated time to complete:

Approximately 30 minutes. Varies depending on age and ability.

What you earn:

  • An official, wood Junior Ranger Badge with the words, “Junior Ranger, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum”.
  • An official Junior Ranger Certificate, which is on the back of the booklet, signed and dated by a Park Ranger.

Monetary costs:

It does not cost anything to participate in this junior ranger program. The booklet and badge are free of charge.

important to know about this park:

  • The National Park Service does not own or manage any land or buildings at this site and therefore there is no visitor center or unigrid/park brochure for this site.
  • We highly recommend a visit to the museum, located in the former Journal Record Building, on the grounds of the memorial site. The museum is dedicated to educating visitors about the impact of violence, informing about events surrounding the bombing, and inspiring hope and healing through lessons learned by those affected. The museum is very well done and impactful but also very heavy. You will want to consider your children’s own emotional readiness before taking them to the museum.
  • There is an entrance fee for the museum and tickets may be purchased online or in person.
  • The memorial grounds are free to visit year-round. No entrance fee or pass is required.
  • Each chair in the Field of Empty Chairs lights up after dark and is very beautiful. We recommend visiting the site during the day, then going to dinner, and returning to view the memorial again after sunset.
  • Regularly scheduled interpretive programs are conducted by Park Rangers daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day at the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial. Check the park calendar for details.
  • Metered street parking is available all around the memorial and is free on weekends, federal holidays and all evenings after 6pm.
  • The Memorial Parking Garage, located at the corner of NW 6th and Harvey Avenue is free with a paid museum admission. Parking validation is given at the Museum admissions desk. The garage is $5 per hour without a validation.
  • The traditional Passport Stamp is available right inside the museum. Plus there are additional Passport Stamps, including the Junior Ranger Passport Stamp in the NPS Park Offices at 301 NW 6th Street, Suite 305, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.

Park Details

REGIONSouthwest States
CITY, STATEOklahoma City, Oklahoma
GENERAL LOCATION3.3 acre site in downtown Oklahoma City where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the Athenian Building, and the Oklahoma Water Resources Building once stood.
MEMORIAL HOURSThe Outdoor Symbolic Memorial is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rangers can be found on the Memorial grounds every day from 9:00am to 4:30pm, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
PARK OFFICES HOURSDaily from 7:30am to 5:00pm, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
MUSEUM HOURSVisit https://memorialmuseum.com/ for hours, holidays and to purchase tickets.
PARK WEBSITEwww.nps.gov/okci
PARK EMAILSend pictures of completed junior ranger books to larry_toll@nps.gov. For general park inquiries use okci_superintendent@nps.gov
PARK PHONE #405-609-8855 Park Offices
MEMORIAL ADDRESS620 North Harvey Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
PARK MAILING ADDRESS & PARK OFFICESAttn: Junior Ranger
301 NW 6th Street, Suite 305
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
PARK THEMEMilitary & Memorials

Other nearby Parks, Junior ranger Programs and attractions:

Oklahoma City National Memorial circle sticker with Ranger Trek character in center saluting

Disclaimer

While we have made every effort to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information, Ranger Trek assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained herein is provided without guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, or timeliness. If you come across any errors or omissions, we welcome your feedback so that we can promptly update our information. Parks occasionally modify their junior ranger programs. For example, a park might revise its junior ranger booklet, introduce or discontinue an additional junior ranger program, or alter the badges or patches they award. Some parks may offer extra junior ranger programs and badges only during specific events rather than on a regular basis. Before relying solely on the information provided here, we encourage you to conduct your own due diligence. The primary source for the information in this article is the park itself. We recommend verifying any details with the park via their website, email, or phone.

Please note: All outdoor recreation activities carry inherent risks, and readers should assume personal responsibility for their safety.

  1. https://www.nps.gov/okci/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm ↩︎
  2. https://www.nps.gov/okci/learn/management/index.htm ↩︎

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  1. Pingback: Junior Ranger Programs in the Southwest – Ranger Trek

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