Museum of the Bible Opens in Washington DC!!! (PHOTOS+VIDEO)

Photo Credit: Alan Karchmer

Hello World,

I don’t know about you, but the Bible is the foundation of my life! Without the wisdom woven through its words, I would be an anxious mess. Without the encouragement embedded through its expanse, I would be overcome with sadness. Without the direction doled out through its dimensions, I would be completely lost. That is why I’m been following the construction of the Museum of the Bible in our nation’s capital since I first heard about it a couple of years ago, and as of yesterday, just in time for the holiday season, it is open!!!

The Museum of the Bible invites all people to engage with the Bible through museum exhibits and scholarly pursuits. Dedicated to the history, narrative and impact of the Bible, the museum, located at 400 4th St. SW, is three blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

Exterior rendering of the eight-story, 430,000-square-foot Museum of the Bible.
Photo credit: SmithGroupJJR

Below are some statistics about the museum:

Total square footage: 430,000

Floors: 8 (including two basement levels and two new floors constructed on the existing rooftop)
The museum is approximately 170 feet in height from the lowest level to the rooftop
Central exhibit floors: 3 (History, Narrative and Impact of the Bible)
Construction and property costs: More than $500 million
Workers on-site daily at construction’s peak: 500 – 600
Time it takes to read every placard, see every artifact and experience every activity in the museum: 9 days at 8 hours per day
Floor height (in feet) needed to accommodate exhibits: 20 (approximately)
Length (in feet) of giant LED ceiling screen running the expanse of the museum’s
grand lobby: 140
Biblical garden: 1 on rooftop
Ballroom: Dinner seating for 420, lecture-style seating for 630
Performing arts hall: 472 seats
Number of biblical texts and artifacts on display on the History floor alone: More than 500
Number of blocks from the National Mall: 2 (approximately three minutes walking)

See a video tour of the museum:

Check out some highlights from some of the museum’s floors:

Floor 1: Overview – Courageous Pages Children’s Area

From the Pit to the Palace: This pedestal game uses a maze and a rolling ball to tell the story of Joseph, from his coat of many colors to his various imprisonments to his ascent as second-in-command of all Egypt.
Walking on Water: This is a mesmerizing illusion that uses high-end technology to project a watery surface in the middle of Courageous Pages. Kids marvel as they stand “atop” the water and inspect the animated marine life below them.
David and Goliath (game): This game puts players in the center of the action of this well-known story as they pitch soft “stones” at a mobile Goliath target.

Floor 2: Impact of the Bible – Bible in the World

Biblical Names: Guests see how thousands of names can trace their origins to the Bible.
Education: A schoolroom setting lets guests experience firsthand how the Bible has inspired educational efforts around the world. Media traces many biblically founded universities and colleges around the globe, and guests compete against each other in a Bible quiz.
Fashion: Mannequins on a runway feature biblically inspired designs. A “magic mirror” allows guests to design their own fashion.

Floor 3: Stories of the Bible – The World of Jesus of Nazareth

A completely immersive, themed environment called The World of Jesus of Nazareth transports guests to a meticulous re-creation of a first-century village.
Photo credit: Alan Karchmer

Parable Theater: This cozy standing theater offers guests filmed representations of some of the most arresting of Jesus’ parables.
Synagogue: Guests take in a jaw-dropping re-creation of a typical village house of worship
and instruction.
Typical House and Cooking Courtyard: These two areas detail the private life of Nazareth villagers, allowing guests to walk through a typical village home and see how they slept, prepared meals and performed other daily chores.

Below are some photos from the grand opening: