BibleWalk facts for kids

BibleWalk is a unique wax museum located near Mansfield, Ohio. It used to be called The Living Bible Museum. This museum is a Christian attraction that shows important stories and moments from the Bible using life-sized wax figures.

One interesting fact about BibleWalk is how they got some of their wax figures. To save money, they bought figures from other wax museums that were closing down. This means some figures might have once been famous celebrities! The museum tries to make sure you can't tell who they were before.

Discover BibleWalk's Amazing Collections

BibleWalk offers five different tours for visitors to explore. Inside, you'll find 78 detailed scenes. These scenes feature over 300 life-sized figures. The figures are made from materials like wax, Fiberglas, and vinyl.

What You'll See Inside

Each scene at BibleWalk is carefully put together. They often include other figures, stuffed animals (called taxidermy), and various objects. These are all placed in front of painted backgrounds. To make the experience even more real, each scene also has music, narration, and special effects.

Rare Art and Carvings

The museum is home to a very special wax display of The Last Supper. This particular piece was created by the famous wax sculptor Marie Tussaud. BibleWalk also has other cool collections. You can see rare Bibles and beautiful religious woodcarvings. There's also a collection of American votive folk art. In 2020, a collection of 100 life-sized carved wood statues by Joseph Barta was added. These amazing carvings went on display in 2021. The museum promotes itself as "holy ground."

The Story Behind BibleWalk

The idea for BibleWalk began in the early 1970s. Pastor Richard and Mrs. Alwilda Diamond from the Faith Revivals church thought of it. They were inspired after seeing a religious scene at a wax museum in Atlanta.

How BibleWalk Started

The first three scenes were built at the Diamond Hill Cathedral. The Last Supper was finished in August 1983. Then, Jesus and the Children and The Woman at the Well were completed in December 1983. The figures for these early scenes came from another Bible Walk museum in Pennsylvania. Before the main museum opened, these scenes were even shown at county fairs and the Ohio State Fair.

Building the Museum

Construction on a separate museum building started in September 1985. It was built in what used to be a vegetable garden! The museum officially opened its doors on August 15, 1987. At first, it was known as The Living Bible Museum. It had 16 scenes when it first opened. The museum changed its name to BibleWalk in 2004.

Most of the museum was built by church members. They volunteered their time and effort. Today, volunteers still help maintain and manage the museum. BibleWalk is recognized as a nonprofit organization. This means it focuses on its mission rather than making a profit.

Visiting BibleWalk

Even before it opened, people expected BibleWalk to attract many visitors. The museum brings in guests from out of town. This helps the local economy in Mansfield. In 2015, about 40,000 people visited BibleWalk. Many visitors come from cities like Detroit and Cleveland. Some even travel from far-off places like Germany, Africa, Asia, and Indonesia.

BibleWalk has received awards for its role in tourism. In 2016, it was honored for "Excellence in Tourism." This award came from the Mansfield/Richland County Convention and Visitors Bureau. In 2018, BibleWalk's special "Dinner With Grace" events were added to the Tourism Hall of Fame. This recognition came from Destination Mansfield-Richland County.