A Museum of the world’s best-selling and most widely read book, the Bible officially opened to the public on November 17, in Washington, DC, the U.S. capital.
It contains eight floors of biblical artifacts and exhibits from over the centuries ― including fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest known copies of Biblical text—which is why the museum’s founders are rumored to have spent millions of dollars to obtain 13 of them for their collection. It also exhibits tablets dating back to the time of Abraham, and rare printed Bibles.
The building houses multiple theaters and restaurant spaces, as well as a rooftop garden with plant varieties that are mentioned in the Bible.
Admission to the Museum of the Bible is free, although the museum suggests a donation of $15, according to the Huffington Post.
For Cary Summers, president of the Museum of the Bible (MOTB), it’s about time the Bible was honored this way. CNN called it one of the year’s most-anticipated museums, and the Smithsonian labeled its new neighbor a “must-see,” according to Charisma Magazine.
Executive Director Dr. Tony Zeiss told the Magazine one of his goals is “to give a first-class museum experience to every visitor. We want them to say, when they leave, that that was the best museum experience in their lives.”
To that end, MOTB is packed with exhibits and content. Early estimates suggest that to read every placard, see every artifact and experience every attraction in the museum would take nine days.
Schneider says the technology at this museum is designed for every learning style—visual, audible and tactile. MOTB supports many languages. Attractions have even been designed with disabled individuals in mind.
The museum’s leadership wanted to be sure nothing would be a barrier for anyone in learning about God’s Word, Charisma Magazine says.
Not drawn to a particular Christian faith group, MOTB simply puts the attention on Scripture and lets it speak for itself.
“We’re not involved in proselytizing or advocating any doctrine,” Zeiss told the source. “We are here for all people. We have the Hebrew Bible, which most Protestants would know as the Old Testament. We have the New Testament. We have the Apocrypha from the Catholic Bible. We are just presenting the Bible—and we have every confidence that people will get engaged with it, and they’ll be intrigued by it.”
Funding for the museum is all through private donations, from both big and small donors, according to CBN news.
The museum launched its One Million Names campaign, soliciting donations from people at any amount great or small. The first million will have their names displayed in the museum.
editor@ugchristiannews.com
