Spring 2024 Oklahoma Trip
The Law and Order Club was fortunate enough to travel to Oklahoma City to visit the National Memorial Museum along with the First Americans Museum. The trip began with a pleasant train ride that departed from Fort Worth Central Station on March 22, 2024, at 5:25 pm. We all arrived in Oklahoma City with no problems at 9:27 pm. After leaving the train station in Oklahoma City, we made our way to the hotel. The hotel was conveniently located within walking distance of the train station. After arriving at the hotel, we all headed to our rooms to get settled. Once settled, we headed down to the lobby to eat dinner at the hotel restaurant. After dinner, we all went to bed.
The next morning, we all headed downstairs to eat breakfast at the hotel restaurant. After breakfast, we began walking to the National Memorial Museum, which was located just a few blocks from the hotel. Upon arrival at the museum, we first noticed the two gates of time. One gate had the time stamp 9:01, and the other had the time stamp 9:03. The first time stamp represented tranquility and innocence before the attack. In contrast, the second time stamp represented the time when the people of Oklahoma began to heal. We then walked past the reflection pool, which was peaceful and relaxed. We then headed inside to begin exploring the Museum. We first learned about the Alfred P. Murrah building upon entering the museum. The building was named after Judge Alfred P. Murrah, who was from Oklahoma. The federal building housed many agencies, such as ATF, DEA, USPS, SSA, USDA, and USSS, to name a few. The museum had many objects left from the attack. While we were at the museum, we were surprised by a visit from a company called Ground Zero. Ground Zero trains dogs in search and rescue. During their presentation, we were able to see the dogs in action locate a hidden person and a hidden scent. Once the presentation was over, we exited the museum and viewed the children’s area. The children’s area consisted of tiles covered in handprints, and each handprint represented a child killed. We then moved to the memorial. The memorial was filled with empty seats, and each sent was a symbol for each life lost on April 19, 1995. The memorial was enchanting.
After the National Memorial Museum, we headed to the First Americans Museum. This museum highlights the 39 tribes that reside in Oklahoma. This visit was eye-opening. Upon entering, I was in awe of the architecture of the building, which seamlessly blends modern design with traditional elements—inside, we encountered captivating exhibits that showcased the resilience, creativity, and wisdom of the Native American peoples. The first exhibit we saw talked about how some of the tribes began. The exhibit was immersive as you sat in a semi-closed room with a screen that curved around you by about 300˚. As we moved through the museum, we saw the many struggles that the tribes endured. Such as the Indian Removal Act, which the US Supreme Court deemed illegal; however, President Jackson proceeded with the act anyway. The museum had beautifully crafted artifacts, such as the clothing that the tribes would wear and the weapons that some of the tribes used. The museum also contained interactive displays offering a deeper insight into the lives of the tribes; each section of the museum offered a deeper insight into the diverse cultures and traditions of the First Americans. I was particularly moved by the stories shared by Indigenous voices, shedding light on their enduring connection to the land and their ongoing struggles and triumphs. Through our visit, we gained a profound appreciation for the contributions of Native American communities to our collective heritage.
Once we finished with the museums, we returned to the hotel to rest before we went out to dinner. Our hotel was within walking distance of Bricktown, which is similar to Magnolia Ave here in Fort Worth. Bricktown was filled with many restaurants; choosing which one to dine at was difficult. As we got closer, we could start to smell all the different kinds of food, which made it even harder since it all smelled good. We then walked down to the Bricktown Canal, similar to the San Antonia river walk. After contemplating where to eat, we decided to eat at The Old Spaghetti Factory. Once we finished eating, we walked back to the hotel and called it a night.
The following morning, we had breakfast in the hotel before we boarded the train. We left the hotel at 7:55 am. We walked to the train station before they began to board. Once we boarded, it was a smooth ride. The train was scheduled to arrive at Fort Worth at 12:27 pm but arrived early, around 12:15 pm. The trip concluded with all Law and Order Club members returning safely to Fort Worth on March 24, 2024.
All members that attended are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to travel to Oklahoma.
- President Hismael Veloz Ramirez