Keychain of the Eiffel Tower

2017

The Fence has been a crucial part of the Memorial & Museum experience for almost 30 years and has been visited by millions of people. Throughout the years, a consistent trend in items left on the Fence are those from other places in the world. Items have been left from all 50 states and many different countries. Flags, bracelets, license plates and clothing items have all been left by people outside Oklahoma. For those not from Oklahoma, these items left on the Fence represent themselves and their homes. For Oklahomans, these items represent hope and love coming from all over the world, from Alaska to France.

Keychains are one of the most popular items left on the Fence. Since the Fence was erected, at least 500 keychains have been left. An item as simple as an Eiffel Tower keychain symbolizes support from France. While we cannot know for sure if it came from France, the keychain reveals the connectedness of people; also, as France is also a country that has suffered the effects of violent attacks, it is a reminder of the ways in which violence affects us all.