BibleWalk facts for kids

BibleWalk is a special wax museum located near Mansfield, Ohio. It used to be called The Living Bible Museum. This museum shows important stories and scenes from the Christian Bible using life-sized wax figures. It is connected to the Diamond Hill Cathedral.

The museum has become well-known for using wax figures that once looked like celebrities. These figures were bought from other wax museums that were closing down. This helped BibleWalk save money because new wax figures can be very expensive. The museum tries to change the celebrity figures so they are not easily recognized.

What You Can See at BibleWalk

The museum offers five different tours. There are 78 scenes in total. You will see over 300 life-sized figures. These figures are made from wax, Fiberglas, and vinyl.

Amazing Scenes and Figures

Each scene at BibleWalk tells a story. The figures are placed in settings that might include other figures, stuffed animals (called taxidermy), and various objects. Behind them are painted backgrounds that help set the scene. To make the experience even better, each scene also has music, narration, and cool special effects.

Unique Collections

BibleWalk has a very rare wax display of The Last Supper. This famous piece was created by Marie Tussaud, who was a pioneer in wax sculpting. The museum also has other interesting collections. These include rare Bibles and beautiful religious woodcarvings. You can also see American votive folk art, which are handmade items given as thanks or prayers.

In 2020, the Museum of Woodcarving joined BibleWalk's collection. This added 100 life-sized statues carved from wood by Joseph Barta. These new carvings went on display in 2021. The museum's promotional materials describe it as "holy ground."

How BibleWalk Started

The idea for BibleWalk came from Pastor Richard and Mrs. Alwilda Diamond. They were part of the Faith Revivals church. In the early 1970s, they saw a religious scene at a wax museum in Atlanta. This inspired them to create their own.

Early Beginnings

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 were made of Fiberglas. They were bought from William Warren's Bible Walk in Collier Township, Pennsylvania. Before the museum opened, some of these scenes were shown at county fairs and the Ohio State Fair.

Opening the Museum

In September 1985, construction began on a separate building for the museum. It was built in what used to be a vegetable garden nearby. The museum officially opened its doors on August 15, 1987. At that time, it was known as The Living Bible Museum and had 16 scenes. In 2004, its name was changed to BibleWalk.

Church members and volunteers did almost all the work to create the museum. They also continue to maintain and manage it. BibleWalk is recognized by the IRS as a nonprofit organization. This means it focuses on its mission rather than making a profit.

Visitors and Recognition

Even before it opened, people expected the museum to attract many visitors. It was thought that tour buses would bring guests interested in religious places. BibleWalk does indeed bring in visitors from out of town. This helps the local economy. In 2015, about 40,000 people visited the museum.

Who Visits BibleWalk?

Many visitors come from cities like Detroit and Cleveland. Some even travel from far away countries such as Germany, Africa, Asia, and Indonesia. This shows how popular BibleWalk is.

Awards and Honors

In 2016, BibleWalk received an award for "Excellence in Tourism." This award came from the Mansfield/Richland County Convention and Visitors Bureau. In 2018, BibleWalk's "Dinner With Grace" events were honored. They were added to the Tourism Hall of Fame by Destination Mansfield-Richland County. These awards show how much the museum contributes to tourism in the area.