Museum of the Bible facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Museum of the Bible

Museum facade (2024)
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Established	November 17, 2017
Location	400 4th St SW Washington, D.C., United States
Type	History museum
Collection size	40,000+
Founder	Steve Green
Architect	David Greenbaum
Public transit access	Federal Center SW

The Museum of the Bible is a museum located in Washington, D.C., United States. It is owned by a non-profit group called Museum of the Bible, Inc. This group was started in 2010 by the Green family. The museum explores the story, history, and influence of the Bible. It first opened its doors on November 17, 2017. The museum has over 1,150 items in its main collection. It also displays about 2,000 items borrowed from other places.

The museum states it is open to everyone and does not try to convince people to believe a certain way. It also says it is not involved in politics. The museum charges an entry fee. Visitors can find places to eat inside, including a kosher restaurant called Manna and the Milk and Honey Café.

Museum History

The Museum of the Bible began as a non-profit organization in 2010. In 2012, the Green family bought the old Terminal Refrigerating and Warehousing Co. building. This building, from 1923, used to be the Washington Design Center. It is just two blocks from the National Mall in Washington D.C. This is where the museum's home and design were announced.

The main supporters of the museum when it started were Hobby Lobby and the Green family. They also received help from the National Christian Foundation. Cary Summers, a former museum president, said their goal was to "reacquaint the world with the book that helped make it." He wanted visitors to form their own ideas about the Bible.

The museum project cost about $400 million. It involved updating the historic building. Two new floors were added, along with a rooftop café and garden. The original red brick and decorations from 1923 were carefully restored. New bricks were brought in from Denmark. The main building was given historical protection status. The glass roof offers amazing views of the United States Capitol, the Washington Monument, and several Smithsonian museums. Clark Construction led the building work. The architectural design was done by SmithGroup.

Items from the Green Collection, which belongs to Hobby Lobby, were given to the Museum of the Bible. This helped Hobby Lobby with a tax write-off.

The museum officially opened on Friday, November 17, 2017. There was a special ceremony in the museum's theater. Pope Francis sent an official blessing for the museum's opening. A message from the Vatican said the Pope hoped visitors would find their faith strengthened. He also hoped many others would learn about the Bible's important role in human history.

Exploring the Exhibits

The museum's exhibits aim to show the Bible's influence throughout history. Bible expert David Trobisch helped guide the museum's collections. He also helped plan the stories for the exhibits. A team of thirty scholars and curators worked with him. Indiana Wesleyan University professor Jerry Pattengale helps lead the education programs. The museum works with many different groups. These include Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, and other religious and non-religious organizations.

Each of the museum's six floors has a different exhibit. They focus on various parts of the Bible's history or its impact. There are three main exhibit floors, each about 55,000 square feet (5,100 square meters).

First Floor: Ancient Artifacts and Modern Technology

The first floor mixes old artifacts with new technology. This helps visitors feel like they are part of the Bible's story. The main entrance on 4th Street SW has huge bronze doors. They are 40 feet (12 meters) tall and weigh 2.5 tons (2,268 kg). These doors have stained glass art showing the creation story from Genesis. The main lobby has a 140-foot (42 meter) LED ceiling. This ceiling can show different pictures and messages.

On this floor, guests can take a virtual reality tour. They can visit important places from the Bible, like the Sea of Galilee. There is also an exhibit here that is a partnership with the Vatican Museum and Library.

Second Floor: Bible's Impact on Culture

The second floor shows how the Bible has influenced world culture. This includes areas like science, justice, and freedom. Another part of this floor shows the Bible's impact on American history. There is also a "flying" tour of Washington D.C. This tour points out Bible references found in the city's famous landmarks.

Third Floor: The Bible's Story

The third floor tells the main story of the Bible. It starts with Abraham and goes through the creation of Israel. It continues to the time of Jesus and the early church. This floor also has a large section dedicated to the Jewish Bible.

Fourth floor, Biblical history and archaeology

Fourth Floor: History and Archaeology

The fourth floor explores biblical history and archaeology. Trobisch mentioned that the museum explains past disagreements in Christian history. It shows the arguments that were made at the time.

Fifth Floor: Performing Arts and Special Exhibits

The fifth level has a performing arts theater. This theater can hold 500 people. The museum hosts talks by scholars here. It also has shows related to the Bible. For example, the Broadway show Amazing Grace started its tour at the museum's World Stage Theater. This floor also has a separate area for exhibits from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Sixth Floor: Views and Research

The sixth floor has a rooftop viewing area. From here, you can see the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol. There are also stained glass exhibits and a large ballroom. This ballroom can host 1,000 guests. The museum's research center for artifacts and its library are located in an addition on the roof of a nearby office building.

Many museum partners helped design the exhibits. The PRD Group worked on the history of the Bible floor. They have also worked on exhibits at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. BRC Imagination Arts created the narrative of the Bible floor. Jonathan Martin Creative built a replica of a Nazareth village from the first century. C&G Partners designed the impact of the Bible floor. They have worked on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The museum has over 40,000 objects and artifacts. These items range from the time of Abraham to the New Testament period. They include ancient Bible papers, Torah scrolls, rare printed Bibles, and Jewish artifacts. The museum also shows important archaeological items. These are owned by other groups and private collectors, like the Israel Antiquities Authority. Steve Green has given other old artifacts from his own collection. Other early exhibits include parts of Julia Ward Howe's original writing for the song "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". There is also a copy of the Liberty Bell. It has a Bible verse from Leviticus engraved on it: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof".

The museum's roof has a Biblical garden. Here, visitors can see different types of plants mentioned in the Bible.

In September 2024, the museum opened a special exhibit. It is called The Megiddo Mosaic: Foundations of Faith. This exhibit is a partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). It features a mosaic floor from the 3rd century A.D. This mosaic was found in northern Israel between 2003 and 2005. The Megiddo Mosaic is thought to come from one of the earliest Christian worship sites. It also has the earliest known writing that identifies Jesus as God.

Manuscript Collection

The Museum of the Bible has a collection of old manuscripts. These include:

• One of the Dishna Papers (from the 3rd or 4th century).
• The Washington Pentateuch (around the year 1000).
• The Hours and Psalter of Elizabeth de Bohun (1330–1340).
• The Lipnice Bible (1421).
• A Wycliffite New Testament (early 15th century).
• The prayer book for young Charles V (1516–1519).

And many other important historical documents.

Food and Dining

Todd and Ellen Gray, who own Equinox restaurant, run a restaurant inside the museum called Manna. It is a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with 165 seats. The Grays also provide food for events held at the museum. The museum also has a more casual lunch and coffee shop. Some of the food offered there is certified as kosher.

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