05-04-2025
‘Illumination of hope': New OKC memorial tribute honors the past and inspires the future
There are now big, bold and bronze 'OKC' letters greeting residents and visitors as they enter Sixth Street from Interstate 235, but it's much more than a road sign.
The new installation is part of a revitalization effort on Sixth Street to signify a gateway to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Under the railroad bridge, 'Be the Light' is illuminated and the goal is to honor the past while also inspiring the future.
For Blayne Arthur, daughter of Dr. Margaret L. 'Peggy' Clark, who died in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing on April 19, 1995, the new project is a culmination of the work many good people have done since that day, she said.
'I think we have had so many positive things happen in the last 30 years,' she told The Oklahoman. 'The community, the Oklahoma Standard, how we've all come together to say we want this to be the place where people want to live, where they want to raise their kids, where they want to have their businesses, and I think we've seen tremendous success,' she said.
Arthur said people could have responded negatively to what happened, but said she loves the focus on 'being the light' and working collaboratively.
'I think in the next 10 years, we'll just see increased growth of the city, increased opportunity to be inclusive of all people and what they want to have happen and make this one of the best places that you can live,' she said. Arthur serves as Gov. Kevin Stitt's secretary of agriculture and chief adviser.
Kari Watkins, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, told The Oklahoman the new installation is more than just artwork. The installation opened on Friday, April 4.
'The art and placemaking really have the power to shape emotions and turn a street into a story,' Watkins said. 'It's about creating this powerful experience. One that honors the past while inspiring the future.'
When residents and visitors exit from I-235, they see the 'OKC' sign and can take Sixth Street to Harvey Avenue, straight to the Oklahoma City National Memorial. That stretch of road is also being renovated, and improvements include re-surfaced streets, 'Oklahoma City' signage and lighting. In 2023, more than 503,000 visitors were directed to use the Sixth Street exit if approaching from the north, or the Harrison Avenue exit if coming from the south, east or west, Watkins wrote in a letter to the city.
As people travel under the railroad bridge, 'Be the Light' signage can now be seen.
'That is our message to people as they come in and out every day. Go do something good. Go be kind,' Watkins said.
She said the upcoming 30th anniversary is a big milestone, adding the city is putting downtown back together piece by piece, and one of the key pieces is the gateway. Watkins said she's excited about the new installation and reflected on how far the city has come since the bombing. Some of the economic recovery can be seen in Automobile Alley and other areas.
The gateway is the result of a partnership between The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum and Downtown OKC Partnership, The Oklahoman reported in January.
'We're pleased to be able to do our part and so many people have given to us and been so kind to us that we want to give back to others,' Watkins said.
The significance of the bombing is still relevant today, she added. 'We're living in a world of divisiveness and anti-government, so the memorial and its mission is very relevant.'
When people see it, Watkins said she wants them to think of a city that has seen the very best of humanity when it was faced with the worst of times.
'We have to figure out how to find common ground and work together,' she said. 'In the word community is the word unity. It's up to us to work together.'
The gateway installation and Sixth Street renovation were revealed shortly after the memorial and museum announced a new expansion called 'Foreword,' which will feature a new orientation theater, exhibit enhancements, upgraded security features, additional elevators, a state-of-the-art civics lab, a new film studio and a redesigned store, The Oklahoman reported in January.
Dr. Susan Chambers, chair of the memorial board, said places of remembrance deserve more than a road sign. They deserve a gateway that tells their story, she said, adding it's also a call to action for the present.
'It's about how we show up for each other in our city, in our community, in our world,' she said. 'Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you have the power to be the light.'
Public Works Director Debbie Miller said she remembers the day of the bombing and how devastating it was, but Oklahoma City has grown to be vibrant and resilient. She said it's a testament to the city itself.
Downtown OKC Partnership President Jennifer Nakayama thanked those involved with the project and said the work is also a result of municipal government sharing resources with nonprofit organizations that move the community along.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City's Sixth Street sees improvements, new art installation
