Museum opens to defend biblical creation account

[Brother Jerry]

May have to pack the family up and make an overnight trip up there.  Should take me about 5-6 hrs. 

[Soldier4Christ]

Creation Museum attracts better than expected crowds

Tens of thousands of visitors flocked to the new Creation Museum during its first month of operation in Kentucky. The president of Answers in Genesis, the creation ministry that built the museum, says overall attendance is better than expected.



Since its opening at the end of May, more than 40,000 people have taken part in the high-tech walk-through history of the Bible. The 60,000-square-foot facility features animatronic displays, computer-generated visual effects, a special-effects theater -- and the recently opened "Dinosaur Den." Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis, says the facility has attracted a wide range of guests.

"Not all those coming are Christians," he notes. "We're getting non-Christians as well. And it just tells you that there's a tremendous interest out there in this whole topic .... it just tells you that there is much, much more interest out there than what some people have been saying."

Those visiting the Creation Museum, he believes, are eager for the truth about creation, evolution, and dinosaurs. He explains that the museum is not something "that bashes you on the head with the Bible."

"It actually takes you through very graciously and gently, and challenges you to think -- and that's getting around out there as well," he shares. "And so, even more non-Christians come because they are interested to find out what we believe and why we believe what we do."

Museum officials originally projected a yearly attendance of 250,000. Ham points out that the museum is booked for groups on Saturdays throughout the entire summer.

[Soldier4Christ]

Creation Museum reaches 100-thousand visitors

PETERSBURG, Ky. - Less than two months after opening, a northern Kentucky museum dedicated to promoting creationism has drawn 100,000 visitors, causing some growing pains, museum officials said.



The milestone visit - the honor went to a Buffalo, N.Y., family - means the $27 million museum is on pace to easily shatter the first-year attendance projection of 250,000 visits, officials said.

"We're pretty pleased with the response," said Mike Zovath, vice president of museum operations.

The 60,000-square foot museum's first weeks have been highlighted by packed parking lots, long lines to get in and - from critics - skepticism about the museum's claims about science, faith and the origins of the earth.

Evolution is debunked at the museum, which is packed with high-tech exhibits designed by an acclaimed theme-park artist, animatronic dinosaurs and a huge wooden ark. In this Old Testament version of history, dinosaurs appeared on the same day God created other land animals.

The museum also contains fossils, hung in large glass cases in a room visitors spill into after taking a tour of Old Testament history. Museum officials said most fossils were created by the massive flood detailed in the book of Genesis.

The museum is petitioning to add 650 spaces to the parking lot, which currently has about 500 spaces available. The museum would also like to add a canopy over the entrance to protect people waiting in line from the weather.

[Soldier4Christ]

God's word getting out to the people.

[Soldier4Christ]

Creation Museum wants more parking

Attendance at the new Answers in Genesis museum has exceeded staff projections, prompting a proposal to expand the facility's parking lot.

As of Wednesday, about 140,000 people had visited the Boone County tourist attraction, which opened on May 28, spokesman Giles Hudson said.

That puts it on pace to receive more than 700,000 during its first year. Museum staff had projected 250,000 visitors in that period.

The museum has had to turn away visitors some days because there was no room in the parking lot for more vehicles, Hudson said.

The museum has increased staff to accommodate all the visitors and those new workers need parking, too, Hudson said. The museum also wants room for future growth.

"We are grateful for the tremendous support people have shown since our opening just 2½ months ago," he said. "At this rate, we should easily surpass the projections for a quarter million visitors for the first year," he said.

Answers in Genesis has asked the Boone County Planning Commission for permission to amend the development plan for its property off Bullittsburg Church Road.

Answers wants to add 663 more parking spaces at the rear of the property and build a second entrance, onto Deck Lane, commission Executive Director Kevin Costello said.

The organization also wants to build a new grounds maintenance building, install awnings in front of the building and on the side overlooking the lake, and build a road on the south side of the lake for service vehicles, he said.

The commission plans to hold a public hearing on the request at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Boone County Fiscal Court meeting room.

When it first proposed building the museum, Answers in Genesis originally proposed for visitors to access the property from Deck Lane, but moved the entrance to Bullittsburg Church Road because of opposition from neighbors.

The $27 million museum, more than 10 years in the planning and construction, is a monument to the belief that God created everything directly about 6,000 years ago, not through billions of years of evolution.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Lord is indeed using this museum.

[Soldier4Christ]

Creation Museum surpasses first-year attendance outlook

The Creation Museum has met and exceeded its inaugural year attendance goal, less than six months after it opened its doors.

Officials at Answers in Genesis, the apologetics ministry that opened the museum in May, anticipated 250,000 visitors the first year. However, the northern Kentucky-based museum met that goal last week. Melany Ethridge, a spokesperson for the museum, says the big crowds indicate that many are interested in the biblical explanation of creation.

"The museum is drawing not only Christians who already believe in the biblical view of Creation, but it's drawing those who are just more curious to learn more. It's drawing those who have a theoretical belief in God and his involvement in Creation, but haven't ever studied it literally before, and so they're getting to go and learn more about that," she explains.

Ethridge points out that the 60,000-square-foot museum is still attracting large numbers of foreign media representatives as the creation-versus-evolution debate continues.

[Soldier4Christ]

God's message getting out.

[HisDaughter]

That's great!  I have one of Ken Ham's (Answers in Genesis) videos.  He is wonderful about explaining creation and answering questions so that the layman can understand it.  He's from Australia and now lives in the U.S.  I would love to see his Museum sometime!
I am glad to hear that so many curious have gotten to see it!
Grammyluv

[Soldier4Christ]

I don't have any of his videos but I have used his web site extensively. He provides an abundant amount of information from many scientists that is simply the best there is for anyone that is into furthering their education in the word of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Creation Museum expands

Northern Kentucky's Creation Museum is expanding again.

The museum south of Cincinnati is adding 663 parking spaces to accommodate throngs of visitors that have forced staff to park miles away.

The museum, which uses literal interpretations of the Bible to tell the earth's history, has welcomed 265,000 visitors since opening on Memorial Day.

Many of those visitors then visited Kentucky state parks, where they've challenged official claims that the earth and living things evolved over millions of years. This month, 16 state naturalists visited the Creation Museum to better understand those objections.

Museum co-founder Mark Looy says the museum may not have converted the state naturalists, but at least they've now seen "the other side of a controversial topic."

[HisDaughter]

Creation Museum expands

Northern Kentucky's Creation Museum is expanding again.

The museum south of Cincinnati is adding 663 parking spaces to accommodate throngs of visitors that have forced staff to park miles away.

The museum, which uses literal interpretations of the Bible to tell the earth's history, has welcomed 265,000 visitors since opening on Memorial Day.

Many of those visitors then visited Kentucky state parks, where they've challenged official claims that the earth and living things evolved over millions of years. This month, 16 state naturalists visited the Creation Museum to better understand those objections.

Museum co-founder Mark Looy says the museum may not have converted the state naturalists, but at least they've now seen "the other side of a controversial topic."

What a cool, hands-on way to get the Truth across!  Wish I could see it myself!