National Memorial staff moves into Journal Record Building

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- They have no desks, no computers or operating telephones, but the staff of the Oklahoma City National Memorial is happy to finally be inside the Journal Record Building.

Kari Watkins, executive director of the memorial, said Wednesday that the tasks of running the outdoor memorial and supervising completion of the Memorial Center museum will be much easier now that her staff is in its top-floor offices at the west end of the building.

Workers were busy installing carpet and painting ceilings on both floors of the museum. They also are starting to install exhibit cases for video, audio, interactive and memorabilia displays.

Robert M. Johnson, chairman of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Trust, said he and the staff are pleased with progress on the museum, which is still scheduled to open Feb. 19, President's Day.

The center will lead visitors through a timeline of the events surrounding the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The explosion resulted in 168 deaths and more than 500 injuries.

The Journal Record Building was one of dozens of buildings damaged or destroyed in the bombing.

Watkins said she expects her staff to be moved before the end of the week.

She said she also wants to be sure that Leadership Square, the memorial center's home until now, is recognized for its donation of office space.

"We had our offices there for a little over three years and never had to pay for any of that," she said.

"It's a nice gift."