Massive, 40 ft tall Gutenberg Gates greet you at the entrance. 43 feet wide, weighing 16 tons, they dwarf adults, so kids will be especially impressed.
“The BIBLE-
banned, burned, beloved.
More widely read, more frequently attacked than any other book in history.
Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it,
dictators of every age have outlawed it and executed those who read it.
Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it more powerful than their weapons.
Fragments of it smuggled into solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless killers into gentle saints,”
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Museums in DC set the bar high as some of the best in the country, renowned throughout the world. Opened in 2017, the Museum of the Bible represents well, standing in that elite group of archives just fine. It has one of the largest collections of biblical artifacts in the world. While most museums exhibit decades or centuries-old pieces, their collection goes back thousands. Packed with more than 600 rare world treasures, it spans 3,500 years of history. Like other DC museums, this 430,000 sq ft museum is massive. It encompasses 6 main exhibit floors, plus a basement level exhibit. You really need a day or more to truly go through it, but, at very least, spend a ½ day here to hit some of the highlights. It can be overwhelming to whittle down these museums, but choose & plan out your family’s must-see points & anything else you fit in is bonus. It’s also a private (nonprofit) museum and not free, so you want to fit in your money’s worth.
The Museum of the Bible is not the light-hearted, wax-figured version of Jesus & Christianity that many expect. It’s not evangelical, preaching or teaching the faith or the stories. It truly is a Museum of the Bible, itself, and does not linger on Jesus’s story or the tenets of faith, or even God. The museum is more of an academic look at 3 main themes regarding the physical Bible as a book:
But that’s not to say it’s boring or bland. Everything is world-class from their movies to their exhibits to their architecture- beautifully, thoughtfully, extremely well done. The tech is advanced & engaging at a level you normally only see at top theme parks. They used award winning, Oscar-nominated tech & exhibit designers who create for Universal Studios, Cirque du Soleil, Disney, Steven Spielberg, the Smithsonians, the Met, Presidential libraries, & more. Top notch, choosing the best for their museum & exhibit design and it absolutely shows. They consulted with leading biblical scholars throughout the world. They also partner with Israel Antiquities & the Vatican to show rarely seen world treasures. The more you’ve studied the Bible or biblical history, the more you’ll appreciate it. My family & I are Christians, but followers & scholars of multiple faiths visit the museum. An extremely broad range of conflicting expectations & criticisms comes with the territory of a site such as this. They tip-toe a line that tries to be unbiased & non-affiliated. Christians & Jews will think ‘not enough’ & seculars will say ‘too much’. But, it’s well worth seeing for Christians, Jews, and anyone interested in the Bible, its history, or the priceless, ancient artifacts here.
For Families:
For little ones, they have a play room with entertaining arcade/ carnival-type games. The movies & interactive experiences are relatively short, interesting and well-paced. Many exhibits are high tech, immersive & really engaging. However, kids may be a bit bored with all of the ‘old books’ and ancient artifacts. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. We take our kids to all kinds of places, even if they’re bored for awhile and they always end up learning interesting things along the way. It’s okay for kids to be bored and something many aren’t skilled in, today, but it’s something you should be aware of before, since they won’t be actively entertained in a number of exhibits. If they’re old enough to read, they’ll end up reading and learning something, though. However, if you have a gaggle of toddlers, go through the highlights as long as you can, and either try to stick with the more interactive sections, or do a parent swap. One parent can stay with the littles in the kid’s area while the other makes quick trips to highlights that are important to them, then swap. There are also lounge areas on each main floor for teens to rest, too.
My 5 Family Highlights Are: (Further details in Sections Below)
The continually changing LED ceiling, 40 feet high & 140 feet long, is mesmerizing in the Grand Hall entrance.
What’s Available:
Basement Level– Save for Later
Smaller, temporary exhibits rotate in the basement (B1) level. A quick trip, the beautiful Tapestry of Light exhibit has giant, glow in the dark tapestries of scenes from the book of Revelations. It’s there until May 2020 & kids would enjoy the colorful, glowing tapestries.
1st Floor– Save for later
Courageous Pages Kids Area- 1st Floor
2nd Floor- Impact of the Bible (* Family Favorite)
Bible in America– Artifacts & Exhibits from:
A few of the notable, original pieces are:
Bible in the World– Highly interactive, high tech exhibit on culture & society. Older kids will especially like this exhibit. Daily influences you may not realize. Some highlights include:
The Bible Now– Older kids & teens will really appreciate this high tech, fast-moving exhibit.
Some highlights include:
The 2nd floor also includes another paid experience, Washington Revelations. A 6 minute, simulated ‘flying experience’ similar to Disney Park’s Soarin’ attraction. It ‘takes’ you to major sites to show the Bible’s strong presence throughout DC in inscriptions, statues, place names & monuments. The cost is $4.99 + tax, each.
3rd floor– The Stories of the Bible (Engaging for kids)
The Hebrew Bible Experience– This is high tech & super cool with potential for the whole family to really enjoy it. However, it is loud, intense &, at times, dark, so it may be a bit much for little ones afraid of noise, dark or with sensory issues. Also, go early before kids wear out because most is standing & the occasional seating is very limited. A 30 minute experience walking through major stories of the Old Testament Bible, including Noah’s ark, the burning bush, and the Passover.
The World of Jesus of Nazareth– Recreation of 1st century Nazareth that explores the daily life, economy, politics, culture, social and religious practices of Jesus’s village. Olive trees are modeled after the ones in the garden of Gethsemane. There is a small amphitheater with an interesting presentation on Jesus.
12 minute film in the large screened New Testament theatre is interesting, well done, & a good rest spot, but evaluate whether you have time to devote here.
4th Floor- The History of the Bible (Scholarly- kids will get restless)
Themes include: Written traditions. Translating- more than 2000 languages. Books in Different Editions. Spread of the Bible. Conservation & Research. The King James Bible.
Some notable pieces are:
Drive Thru History of the Bible Theater– Visiting places of the Bible, well paced and short.
New Discoveries Gallery – new Archeological discoveries, artifacts such as 1st period glass, tools, weapons, architecture
1- Bodmer Psalms– Psalms written on papyrus in years 225- 325 AD; 2- Impact of the Bible in the World exhibit;
3- An 1800s Torah Scroll cut down & used for the parchment as shoe liners by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust; 4- Sephardic Torah Scroll partly from the 1200s joined with a scroll from the 1800s
5th Floor- Israel Antiquities (Save for Later)
Lower level of a 2 story glass atrium
The People of the Land of Israel- History & Archaeology of life in Ancient Israel- ancient coins, glass, weapons, housewares, etc…
There are daily public readings of Scripture in the World Stage Theater with 3D mappings, 17 projectors & a giant screen for the background scenes & landscape. Temporary rotating exhibits are also on this floor.
Good to Know:
400 4th St SW, Washington DC
10-5 daily; except major holidays
https://www.museumofthebible.org/
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