Creation Museum

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Coordinates: 39°05′10.5″N, 84°47′00.5″W

Creation Museum
Established May 28, 2007
Location Petersburg, Kentucky, United States
Website creationmuseum.org
This article is about the museum in Kentucky. For other creation museums, see List of creationist museums.

The Creation Museum is a 60,000 square foot museum in the United States designed to promote young Earth creationism. The museum presents an account of the origins of the universe, life, mankind, and man's early history according to a literal reading of the book of Genesis. Its exhibits reject evolution and assert that the Earth and all of its life forms were created in 6 days just 6000 years ago and that man and dinosaurs once coexisted.[1][2] These views disagree with well in excess of 99.9% of the scientists in relevant fields.[3][4] Also, the museum exhibits are at odds with the vast majority of scientists who accept that the Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old, and that the dinosaurs became extinct 65.5 million years before human beings arose.[5] The museum has generated criticism by the scientific community, several groups of educators, Christian groups opposed to young Earth creationism, and in the general press.[6][7][8][9]

The museum, which is said to have cost $27 million, is privately-funded through donations to the apologetics ministry Answers in Genesis and opened its doors to the public on May 28, 2007.[10][11] Based on projections, the museum anticipated 250,000 paying visitors in its first year of operation.[12] Total attendance at the museum surpassed 100,000 visitors on July 21, 2007[13] and 200,000 visitors on September 20, 2007.[14] Visitor attendance also exceeded first year expectations only 5 months and 5 days after opening, with a total of 250,000 visitors on November 2, 2007.[15]

Contents

[edit] History

Answers in Genesis' Creation Museum
Answers in Genesis' Creation Museum

The museum was originally marketed as the Creation Museum and Family Discovery Center.[16] It opened in late Spring of 2007 as the "Creation Museum." The museum is located in Petersburg, Kentucky, near the Greater Cincinnati International Airport on 49 acres of land; the Answers in Genesis main offices are attached to the museum.[17][18] The facility's stated mission is to "exalt Jesus Christ as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer," to "equip Christians to better evangelize the lost," and to "challenge visitors to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord."[19]

According to the founder of Answers in Genesis, Ken Ham, "One of the main reasons we moved there was because we are within one hour's flight of 69 per cent of America's population."[20] Ham also explains how the idea of the museum originated: "Australia's not really the place to build such a facility if you're going to reach the world. Really, America is."[21] Previously Ham worked for the Institute for Creation Research, which runs a creationist museum in Santee, California, with free admission.

A view of the portion of the museum that is outside
A view of the portion of the museum that is outside

The museum's official groundbreaking ceremony was March 17, 2001, [22] but plans for the museum had been in the works since the mid-1990s. A significant reason for the time span between planning and execution related to zoning battles which saw the museum's original location turned down. The zoning issues continued to its present location, with the final legal victory for Answers in Genesis becoming official in March 2000.[23]

For most of its time in construction, the cost of building the museum was set at $25 million. However, in response to studies and media reports that suggested an even larger number of visitors estimated annually than previously expected, the museum's cost increased to $27 million as expansion to the front of the building, the parking lot, and the cafe were incorporated. The Associated Press ran a Cincinnati Enquirer news report on April 11, 2007 that stated $27 million had been raised, although fundraising continues for additional expenses related to the opening. Mark Looy, Chief Communications Officer for Answers in Genesis, said in the article that around 75% of the contributions averaged around $100 per gift.[24] However, one anonymous Cincinnati, Ohio family donated $1 million to the cause.[25] Two other families also gave donations in excess of $1 million.[17] Answers in Genesis' success in raising donations for the museum was contrasted with the failure of the American Museum of Natural History to find corporate sponsorship for their exhibit on the life of Charles Darwin. According to the Daily Telegraph, "American companies are anxious not to take sides in the heated debate between scientists and fundamentalist Christians over the theory of evolution."[26]

The museum opened to the public on May 28, 2007, though about 5000 charter members received advanced tours in the days before that.[27] Among those getting an early preview was local congressman Geoff Davis and his family, who are supporters of the project.[28] Ken Ham called the grand opening "not just a historic event in America, but a historic event in Christendom." In addition to elected officials at the county and state levels and representatives from the state and federal governments, over 130 credentialed reporters covered the ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 26.[29]

[edit] Displays and exhibits

An exhibit showing humans alongside dinosaurs
An exhibit showing humans alongside dinosaurs

Kurt Wise was hired as scientific consultant for the project and played a major role in designing the exhibits, which are intended to be state-of-the-art, and include 52 professionally-made videos.[30][1] In addition to large movie screens showing a young-Earth history of the world, the museum also features a 78-seat planetarium depicting creationist cosmologies and a 200-seat special-effects theater with seats that vibrate and jets that can spray the audience with mist.[31][9] Many of the displays were designed by Patrick Marsh, who had formerly worked for Universal Studios designing attractions such as Jaws and King Kong before becoming a born-again Christian and young Earth creationist.[32][1]

Among its exhibits, the museum features life-size dinosaur models, over 80 of them animatronic (animated and motion-sensitive). Model dinosaurs are depicted in the Garden of Eden, many of them side-by-side with human figures.[33] In one exhibit, a model Triceratops is shown wearing a saddle and another, along with a Stegosaurus, is shown aboard a scale model of Noah's Ark.[34][6] The museum is also directly critical of evolutionary theory that links dinosaurs with the origins of birds. The second room of the creation museum for example displays a model prehistoric raptor, stating that the species was featherless and had no connection to birds; this is a reference to Genesis 1, which states that birds were created before the advent of land animals.[33] Biologists and paleontologists, however, have long held the opposite (that today's birds are descended from certain dinosaurs) and point out that the recent discovery of a Velociraptor forearm bearing quill knobs, distinct structural parts of bones into which feathers are anchored, provides further evidence that the species did indeed have feathers.[35][36][37]

Other rooms on the tour depict Old Testament prophets, Martin Luther posting his 95 Theses, and the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925. Some of the last rooms on the tour show modern times and imply that families and society are hurt by the acceptance of evolution.[9] In one video, a male teenager is shown sitting at a computer looking at internet pornography and a female teenager speaks with Planned Parenthood about having an abortion; both acts are blamed on their belief that the Earth is "millions of years" old.[1][38][39][40] The climax of the tour is the life of Jesus Christ, with a three-dimensional depiction of the crucifixion.[20] The exhibits have been called "painstakingly detailed" and even critics have agreed that "Answers in Genesis has gone to great lengths to make their new museum a place that has quality displays".[9][41] The museum also includes a restaurant, outdoor walking trails, and a medieval-themed gift shop.

[edit] Workforce

The creation museum employs about 160 people with another 140 working at the attached Answers in Genesis headquarters.[17][18] To help the museum's mission to evangelize, a chaplain is on staff for visitors in need of spiritual guidance.[28] Each permanent employee must sign a statement of faith indicating that he or she believes in young Earth creationism and the other teachings of Answers in Genesis. These include "Scripture teaches a recent origin for man and the whole creation", "the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman", "the great Flood of Genesis was an actual historic event" and "no apparent, perceived or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the Scriptural record."[42] When applying for work a written statement of one's beliefs is required along with résumé and references.[43][44]

[edit] Controversy and criticism

A display suggesting that evidence from Mount St. Helens supports Young Earth creationism
A display suggesting that evidence from Mount St. Helens supports Young Earth creationism

The Creation Museum has been the subject of controversy ever since it was proposed, because the exhibits are based on a young Earth creationist view of the origins of the universe and life. Local opposition caused the construction approval process to take several years. During construction Professor Lord Robert Winston visited the site of the museum during the filming of his documentary "The Story of God" and remarked,

"I admit I was dismayed by what I saw at the Ken Ham museum. It was alarming to see so much time, money and effort being spent on making a mockery of hard won scientific knowledge. And the fact that it was being done with such obvious sincerity, somehow made it all the worse."[45]

Educators criticizing the museum include the National Center for Science Education.[31] The NCSE collected over 800 signatures from scientists in the three states closest to the museum (Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio) on the following statement:

"We, the undersigned scientists at universities and colleges in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, are concerned about scientifically inaccurate materials at the Answers in Genesis museum. Students who accept this material as scientifically valid are unlikely to succeed in science courses at the college level. These students will need remedial instruction in the nature of science, as well as in the specific areas of science misrepresented by Answers in Genesis."[46]

NCSE director Eugenie Scott characterized the Creation Museum as "the creationist Disneyland."[17] The Guardian called the facility "quite possibly ... one of the weirdest museums in the world."[32] Physicist Lawrence Krauss has called on media, educators, and government officials to shun the museum and says that its view is based on falsehoods.[47] Krauss said that the facility is "as much a disservice to religion as it is to science."[48]

A depiction of the Garden of Eden
A depiction of the Garden of Eden

In the introduction to a Good Morning America report on the museum shown Friday, May 25, an ABC news poll was cited, indicating that despite educators' criticisms, a majority of the American public would agree with the Creation Museum. In the poll, it was stated that 60% of Americans believe that "God created the world in six days."[49] In a March 2007 Newsweek poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, 48% of respondents agreed with the statement "God created humans pretty much in the present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so."[50]

The museum has also been criticized by Christians who are not young Earth creationists. Notable among them is geologist Greg Neyman of Answers in Creation, an old earth creationism ministry. Neyman released a press kit dealing with the museum's grand opening in which he said:

"Those who will benefit least from the museum are the non-Christians, who are firmly grounded in their belief through modern science that the Earth is billions of years old. They will see the museum, and recognize its faulty science, and will be turned away from the church. This will increase the already widening gap between the unchurched and the churched. This gap is the direct result of young Earth creationism."[8]

Neyman adds that "today, the church is comprised of many individuals who accept an old Earth" and "is already moving away from young Earth creationism."[8] The Rev. Mendle Adams, pastor of St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Cincinnati, Ohio, joined others, both secularists and Christians, at protests at the museum's opening. He said "my brothers and sisters in the faith who embrace [the creationist] understanding call into question the whole Christian concept" and "make us a laughingstock."[7] Roman Catholic theologian John Haught sees little merit in the museum, saying it will cause an "impoverishment" of religion. He concluded "It's hard for me to come up with a single reason why we should be doing this. ... It's theologically problematic to me, as well as scientifically problematic."[51] Michael Patrick Leahy, editor of the magazine Christian Faith and Reason, says that by replacing the scientific method with biblical literalism, the museum undermines the credibility of all Christians and makes it easy to represent Christians as irrational.[52]

A piece of a Torah scroll from Iraq.
A piece of a Torah scroll from Iraq.

Edwin Kagin, Kentucky State Director for American Atheists, organized a “Rally for Reason” outside the gates of the Creation Museum its opening day, May 28, 2007. Kagin, a long time activist against creationism, was joined in this effort by the organization known as the "Campaign to Defend the Constitution" and many other groups and individuals according to the organizer's website[1]. Depending on the media source, it was reported that anywhere from 50 to 200 people attended the rally.[53][54] The demonstrators displayed protest signs, an airplane trailing a banner flew overhead and speeches were made.[55] As reported by Deb Silverman of WCPO, "There was a long wait to be one of the first inside the Creation Museum but you couldn't get inside the $27 million building created by the group called 'Answers in Genesis Creation' [sic] without passing by a long line of protesters."[56]

In July 2007, the UC Davis science radio show This Week in Science published a website parodying the Creation Museum. Based on Christian belief in literal biblical truth[57], the Unicorn Museum[58] presents a case for Christian belief in unicorns. While obviously intended to be humorous, the idea is nonetheless supported by the King James Version of the Bible, mentioning the fantasy beasts a total of nine times, though recent scholarship notes that this is not the most accurate rendering.[59][60]

In August 2007, the Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau was criticized by scientists for describing the Creation Museum as a "'walk through history' museum" that "will counter evolutionary natural history museums that turn countless minds against Christ and Scripture". Daniel Phelps, the president of Kentucky Paleontological Society said that as a tax-supported institution, the use of the language was particularly problematic since many religious people accept evolution. The Bureau initially defended its use of the language saying that they used whatever language was supplied by each attraction, but then decided to change the description. [61]

On his visit to the museum, Phelps noted that several of the dinosaur reconstructions were poorly reconstructed or outdated in depiction. A Tyrannosaurus outside the museum grounds for example, is shown standing in an outdated tail dragging "tripod" stance, an Iguanodon is shown bearing a skin texture completely different from what is known from fossilised skin impressions of the species and a Utahraptor is shown to be without feathers, despite recent discoveries of the opposite[62], as well as sporting anatomically incorrect forearms.[63] Phelps also leveled criticism at the reconstructions of Mesozoic flora, one example being a cycad plant reconstructed as little more than a giant pineapple.[62] The museum has also been accused of using 19th century human evolution theories, since refuted, to promote the idea that different human races came from Noah's descendants dispersing after the Confusion of Tongues at the Tower of Babel.[62]

[edit] Promotion

Ken Ham promoted the museum in the hope that people from all over the United States and the world to visit the museum. Groups from churches and Christian schools are also anticipated.[64] During the week the museum opened Answers in Genesis began running a 30-second television commercial promoting the museum in six metropolitan areas, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Columbus, Dayton, Lexington, and Louisville.[65]

Ham has said the museum is not attempting to attract groups from public schools, saying "I suspect by intimidation and threats of lawsuits, I doubt whether public school students, as an official tour, would come."[31] Steve Rissing, a biologist and board member of Ohio Citizens for Science, said that a lawsuit over separation of church and state would be likely if public schools send students to the museum using public tax money.[34]


[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Edward Rothstein, "Adam and Eve in the Land of the Dinosaurs", New York Times, May 24, 2007.
  2. ^ Museum Claims Earth is 6,000 Years Old AP Press release, May 23, 2005
  3. ^ Finding the Evolution in Medicine, Cynthia Delgado, NIH Record, July 28, 2006.
  4. ^ As reported by Newsweek: "By one count there are some 700 scientists (out of a total of 480,000 U.S. earth and life scientists) who give credence to creation-science, the general theory that complex life forms did not evolve but appeared 'abruptly'," in "Keeping God out of the Classroom (Washington and bureau reports)", Larry Martz & Ann McDaniel, Newsweek CIX(26): 23-24, June 29, 1987, ISSN 0028-9604
  5. ^ IAP STATEMENT ON THE TEACHING OF EVOLUTION (PDF). Retrieved on 2007-10-02.
  6. ^ a b Mike Rutledge. "Creation leader thanks critics", The Cincinnati Enquirer, May 26, 2007; Full article available here.
  7. ^ a b Doug Huntington, "Protests Planned for Grand Opening of Creation Museum", The Christian Post, April 27, 2007.
  8. ^ a b c Greg Neyman, "Creation Museum Media Mania," Answers in Creation, March 30, 2007.
  9. ^ a b c d "Creation Museum Set To Open Next Week", Denver's KMGH-TV, May 25, 2007.
  10. ^ Lovan, Dylan T. (July. 31, 2006) High-tech museum brings creationism to life: Biblical account is taken as scientific gospel at $25 million Creation Museum
  11. ^ 10 most-asked questions about the future Creation Museum, Answers in Genesis website, Accessed May 26, 2007.
  12. ^ Richard Fausset, "A rather unusual species of museum," Los Angeles Times, May 20, 2007.
  13. ^ "Kentucky Creation Museum draws crowds along with controversy", USA Today, July 23, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-24. 
  14. ^ Another milestone at the Creation Museum, Ken Ham's Blog, Answers in Genesis website, September 21, 2007.
  15. ^ Creation Museum hits 250K visitors, The Enquirer, Cincinnati, OH, November 3, 2007.
  16. ^ See, e.g., The new and improved Creation Museum Web site!, Answers in Genesis website, May 7, 2001.
  17. ^ a b c d Peter Slevin. "A monument to creation." May 27, 2007.
  18. ^ a b "Museum merges God, science", Vindy.com, The Vindicator, Youngstown, Ohio, copyright Associated Press, May 26, 2007.
  19. ^ Creation Museum: about us, Creation Museum official website, Accessed June 5, 2007.
  20. ^ a b Paul Sheehan, "Onward the new Christian soldier", The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, Australia, Jan. 17, 2005.
  21. ^ Kim Landers, "Museum promotes creationism", AM, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 29, 2007.
  22. ^ "A groundbreaking event in the fight for Biblical authority!", Answers in Genesis official website, Accessed May 26, 2007.
  23. ^ Mark Looy, "Creation Museum going on the drawing boards!", Answers in Genesis official website, Accessed May 26, 2007.
  24. ^ Creation Museum on track: $27M raised to finish center by May 28 opening, execs say, Ryan Clark, The Cincinnati Enquirer, April 11, 2007.
  25. ^ "$1 million donation to Creation Museum!". January 15, 2001.
  26. ^ Nicholas Wapshott. "The Darwin exhibition frightening off corporate sponsors." Daily Telegraph." November 19, 2005.
  27. ^ Andy Mead. "Creation museum to draw believers, critics". May 25, 2007.
  28. ^ a b "Dinosaurs, humans coexist in creationist museum". Jan. 15, 2007.
  29. ^ Ken Ham. "Creation Museum officially opens". May 26, 2007.
  30. ^ Timothy H. Heaton. "A Visito to the New Creation 'Museum'." Reports of the National Center for Science Education. 27 (1-2): 21-24.
  31. ^ a b c Dylan T. Lovan. "Educators Criticize Creation Museum." May 20, 2007.
  32. ^ a b "So what's with all the dinosaurs?". The Guardian. Nov. 13, 2006
  33. ^ a b If dinosaurs could talk, Michael Matthews, Answers in Genesis, Accessed May 26, 2007.
  34. ^ a b Jim DeBrosse. "Creationist display creating controversy". Dayton Daily News. May 26, 2007.
  35. ^ "Scientists Say Velociraptor Had Feathers", Associated Press, America Online, 2007-09-20. Retrieved on 2007-10-02. 
  36. ^ Society Of Vertebrate Paleontology Speaks Out On Creation Museum, Science Daily (July 7, 2007)
  37. ^ Velociraptor Had Feathers, Science Daily (September 20, 2007)
  38. ^ Tom Baldwin. "Creationist museum brings dinosaurs on board Noah’s Ark". Times Online. May 28, 2007.
  39. ^ "Museum Unites Adam, Eve, Dinos". ABC News. May 25, 2007.
  40. ^ Gordy Slack. "Inside the Creation Museum". Salon.com. May 31, 2007.
  41. ^ Greg Neyman. "More Museum Talk from Answers in Genesis". April 17, 2007.
  42. ^ Summary of the AiG Statement of Faith. Accessed May 28, 2007.
  43. ^ Ryan Clark. "Creation Museum touches lives." The (Cincinnati) Enquirer. April 15, 2007
  44. ^ Jobs at Answers in Genesis. Accessed May 28, 2007.
  45. ^ The Story of God—an overview, Paul Taylor, AiG–UK, Answers in Genesis website, 21 December 2005.
  46. ^ Reactions to creation "museum". Accessed May 26, 2007.
  47. ^ Lawrence Krauss. "The creationist museum of misinformation". NewScientist.com. May 23, 2007.
  48. ^ "Misinformation museum". Columbus Dispatch. May 27, 2007.
  49. ^ And God created... dinosaurs, Kim Landers, Australian Broadcasting Company News, May 29, 2007.
  50. ^ Newsweek Poll. Accessed May 27, 2007.
  51. ^ Adelle M. Banks. "New Museum Says Creation, Science Go Hand-in-Hand". Accessed June 1, 2007.
  52. ^ The Trouble with Fred and Wilma: Why the Creation Museum is Bad for Christians, Michael Patrick Leahy, Christian Faith and Reason, May 24,2007.
  53. ^ Barbara Bradley Hagerty. "Creation Museum Pits the Bible Against Evolution". NPR, May 28, 2007.
  54. ^ Peggy Kreimer."AIG museum debuts-First day draws 4,000, protesters". Cincinnati Post, May 29, 2007.
  55. ^ Rally for Reason website
  56. ^ New Museum Draws Hundreds With Different Views On Creationism, Deb Silverman, WCPO, May 28, 2007.
  57. ^ How Do You Know The Bible Is True?, Clarifying Christianity website, retrieved August 8, 2007.
  58. ^ The Unicorn Museum website, retrieved August 8, 2007.
  59. ^ Unicorns and the KJV, Rick Norris, November 8, 1998, retrieved August 8, 2007.
  60. ^ Hartley, John E. "The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: The Book of Job" Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988. p.507.
  61. ^ Mike Rutledge. "Bureau changes museum description(The Cincinnati Enquirer)", September 1, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-09-01. 
  62. ^ a b c The Anti-Museum: An overview and review of the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum. Daniel Phelps. National Center for Science Education. Retrieved on 2007-10-23.
  63. ^ Paul, Gregory S. (2002). Dinosaurs of the Air: The Evolution and Loss of Flight in Dinosaurs and Birds. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 472pp. ISBN 978-0801867637. 
  64. ^ Doug Huntington. "Creation Museum Founder Thanks Protesters, Critics". Christian Post. May 29, 2007.
  65. ^ "Commercials Hit the Airwaves". May 30, 2007.

[edit] External links

[edit] Pro-Museum

[edit] Critical

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