Oklahoma City, Old West, Today's America

Oklahoma City;

Old America…Today’s America

By Bob & Sandy Nesoff

The resolve of the American people has been tested time and again by enemies domestic and foreign.  The most well-known was the 9-11-01 attack on the World Trade Center in New York, now a memorial to the nearly 3,000 people killed by Islamic terrorists.

Nearly forgotten in the aftermath of that attack was the horror brought to the people of Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995 by white supremacist Timothy McVeigh and several accomplices in the destruction of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people including 19 children under the age of six.

But the people of Oklahoma City have not forgotten and they have built a memorial at the site for all to see the strength of the American people in the face of adversity and horror and, especially, the fortitude of Oklahomans.

OKC, as the locals refer to the city, is a welcoming and warm venue with a population that honors its heritage and manages to keep one foot in the present and one in the past.  The grace the state showed to the world following the bombing is typical of the response that Americans have to great tragedy…they come together and march forward.

The National memorial, as the Murrah site is now known, is an incredible venue that should be on everyone’s “must see” list in a visit to OKC.  It is tastefully done and very emotional at the same time without resorting to theatrics.

One room is set up as a board room with a meeting about to begin.  A recording of the meeting is played when, suddenly, the explosion is heard.  The recording stops dead and the facing glass wall lights up with pictures of all those killed in the blast.

Walking through the remainder of the memorial visitors view parts of the building salvaged after the blast.  There are personal items such as shoes and eye glasses, a federal shield and much more.

Outside is a garden and beyond that a reflecting pool.  Just past the pool is a field of “Empty Chairs,” one for each victim.  No one leaves without a feeling of sadness but also with a positive attitude toward the Oklahomans who faced tragedy, overcame it and moved on…but never forgot.

It seemed difficult to move on to something more enjoyable after so solemn a visit, but Oklahoma is a part of the Old West and celebrates that history with vigor.  And there is no better place to honor that legacy than at the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Museum.

Artworks by famed Western artists Remington and Russell portray live on the frontier as it was in the 19^th century.  Displays that come to life enchant the visitor.  A cowboy on a rearing bronco looks as real as though it was in a live rodeo.  The cook at his chuck wagon seems to invite the visitor to stop by for something to eat.

There are magnificent saddles and western wear, a display of branding irons and more barbed wire than could cover a moderate-sized ranch.  If it was in the Old West, it’s in the museum.

Oklahoma’s Indian heritage is given full due.  There are some 39 independent tribes in Oklahoma, each with its own sovereign territory.  Much of their history is told here and the displays of feathered bonnets and beaded buckskin clothing are absolutely magnificent.

There are also life-sized statues of those who brought recognition to the west such as Ronald Reagan and John Wayne.  In the entrance is a heroic statue, the well-known “Last Trail.”

On the walls of the main corridor are plaques commemorating famous cowboys and cowgirls of the past and present.  Docents dressed in boots, leather vests, bandanas, and 10-gallon hats are there to explain each display.

If you have a hankerin’ for modern-day cowboys, mosey over to the Stockyards where on select days you can watch as thousands of head of cattle are auctioned off to begin their journey to your dinner table.  This is definitely not a stop for those of a vegan mind set.

Lining the streets of the Stockyards are discount western wear stores where you can buy boots, shirts, hats and jackets and walk out looking like an Oklahoma native.  The prices are reasonable and the quality of the merchandise is excellent.

Look around for items on sale and you can walk away with terrific bargains.  Boots often sell for up to 50% or more off and western shirts can be had for $10.  Jeans that sell up north for $50 and up can be found here for $20.

But before you go on a buying spree, remember that you have to find a way to get all your purchases back home.  Airline fills can easily put the sting back into what was a bargain.  A good alternative is to package everything and ship it back through a UPS store.

For some nightlife or just a variety of above par restaurants, head to the Bricktown area.  We opted for the restaurant name din honor of Oklahoma native Mickey Mantle, the late baseball Hall of Fame member and great New York Yankee slugger.

While it was a bit noisy, that because of little importance when we were able to dig into one of this cowboy city’s famed steaks.  Old “Number 7’s” chefs know how to cook ‘em just right.

Your choice of eatery in Bricktown will range from steak to sushi.  All you have to do is walk down the street and make a choice.  And for a bit of leisurely relaxation, there is a water taxi across from mantle’s that will cruise the waterway giving you a different perspective of the city.

We headquartered at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel which was only a few blocks from Bricktown and across the street from the Cox convention center.

Give yourself some time to see all that OKC has and do it at your leisure.

Captions

Photos by Bob & Sandy Nesoff

1) Displays, such as this bucking bronco come alive at the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Museum.

2) One of the magnificent American Indian headdresses work by a tribal chief, on display at the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Museum.

3) A sign on display at the National Memorial, site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building destroyed by homegrown terrorists, showing the desperation of federal agents trapped in the building.

4) The serene reflecting pool and, to the right, the field of "Empty Chairs" representing those killed in the explosion at the Alfred P. Murrrah Federal Building.