This state-of-the-art 70,000 square foot museum brings the pages of the Bible to life, through many different sensory experiences. You begin with a walk through the animatronic story of Creation, where you meet Adam and Eve, Noah and his family, and on through Bible history. There are also many other exhibits, including archaeology, insects, Bible manuscripts, skeletons of ancient animals, a special effects theatre, a display of dragons and dinosaurs, a cosmic journey through time and space in the planetarium, and much more. There is also a live talk given daily by one of the Answers in Genesis’s dynamic speakers, examining the relevance of Genesis in today’s world. Challenges from modern science are efficiently and intelligently faced and answered, and even more important, the museum addresses the question of purpose. Not only “Where did we come from?” but “Why are we here?” It truly helps one understand why creation matters.

After spending a few hours in the museum, there is even more to see. Outside are lovely well-designed botanical gardens and a petting zoo. The gardens have nearly a mile of paved, accessible (We pushed Mom in a wheelchair provided by the museum) trails as you cross over bridges and a variety of waterfalls. In the petting zoo, grandson Jay’s favorites are the “Zorse” (zebra-horse) and the “ZeeDonk” (zebra-donkey). There is also a zip line course for an extra fee (which we didn’t do). Even though it was a rainy day, the skies cleared long enough for us to enjoy the outdoor areas as well. Every admission is a two-day ticket, so if you want to forestall weather problems and have the time, plan to spend two days. Reasonably priced food is available in Noah’s Cafe, or you can bring a picnic lunch with you and go to your car to eat. Admission includes in-out privileges. You only have to show your ticket for the main museum walk-through. Though the museum is a bit pricey ($29.95 for adults, $23.95 for seniors), for all of 2014, children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.

Thanks to the graciousness of friends who have lifetime passes, we have been able to take most of our grandchildren to see this amazing place. And when the younger ones are ready, we hope to be able to take them to see it too. Also, the Ark Encounter, a separate facility featuring a full-scale model of Noah’s Ark, should be open by summer of 2016. I’m sure it will be an even more impressive destination than the Creation Museum, and I hope we can visit it too.