Curbed DC - Museum of the Bible newsLove where you live2017-11-20T12:30:58-05:00http://dc.curbed.com/rss/stream/132861872017-11-20T12:30:58-05:002017-11-20T12:30:58-05:005 must-read reviews of the Museum of the Bible
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>From the <em>Washington Post </em>to Vox, see what critics had to say about Washington, D.C.’s newest, most religious museum</p> <p id="ffG9M5">It’s finally here. Washington, D.C.’s Museum of the Bible has opened its doors to the public, and there is so much to look forward to (and maybe be cautious about). The museum, headed by Hobby Lobby President Steve Green, has gained much notice from the public as well as many criticisms and <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16520244/bible-museum-artifacts-scholars-dc">questions</a>. </p>
<p id="5aPgXY">For an in-depth look at what critics are saying about the museum, check out the following five reviews:</p>
<ol>
<li id="HnOuxW">“When the NewsHour toured the museum earlier this week, it found a state-of-the-art museum that stays away from hot topics like abortion or birth control, favors experiential and immersive exhibits, and does not evangelize but will likely ruffle the feathers of some from excluded religious traditions,” writes Elizabeth Flock of <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/the-museum-of-the-bible-only-references-islam-twice-and-other-things-we-learned-on-tour">PBS NewsHour</a>.</li>
<li id="ui8oZ2">“After touring the site of the museum, visiting its traveling exhibit, and interviewing [Museum of the Bible Founder and Hobby Lobby CEO Steve] Green and others involved in the project, we have found that despite genuine efforts at nonsectarianism, the museum’s version of the Bible’s history remains beholden to the worldview of the Green family. The broader story it tells about the Bible, and especially the Bible’s place in American culture, is essentially a Protestant one, and it excludes other traditions when they might come into conflict with that basic story,” writes Candida Moss and Joel S. Baden of <a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/10/15/just-what-is-the-museum-of-the-bible-trying-to-do-215711"><em>POLITICO</em></a>.</li>
<li id="tr4nLP">“Some moments border on cheesy; others are strikingly sober. An immersive section devoted to the Nazareth of Jesus’ day feels Disney- or Vegas-like (although it was also among the most crowded), while a floor devoted to the history of the Bible recalls a monastic library,” writes Menachem Wecker of <a href="https://news.artnet.com/exhibitions/museum-of-the-bible-review-1151951">Artnet</a>.</li>
<li id="XeS1zj">“When it comes to the literal truth of the Bible, things can get slippery. Although there is little to no material evidence to support the narrative of the Jewish exile and escape from Egypt recounted in Exodus, the museum jumbles together biblical texts about Egypt with the uncontested fact that there was significant cultural exchange between Egypt and the various peoples who lived in the lands now associated with the Jewish people,” writes Philip Kennicott of the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/the-new-bible-museum-tells-a-clear-powerful-story-and-it-could-change-the-museum-business/2017/11/15/6fc76f40-c98e-11e7-8321-481fd63f174d_story.html?utm_term=.e4198e6eff04"><em>Washington Post</em></a><em>.</em>
</li>
<li id="xSiowm">“... the way in which the museum’s founders have routinely disregarded basic principles of academic inquiry should make would-be visitors very, very cautious,” writes Tara Isabella Burton of Curbed sister site <a href="https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/11/17/16658504/bible-museum-hobby-lobby-green-controversy-antiquities">Vox</a>.</li>
</ol>
<p id="OSH9q7">For more reviews, there are some now available on the museum’s <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yelp.com%2Fbiz%2Fmuseum-of-the-bible-washington-2&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fdc.curbed.com%2F2017%2F11%2F20%2F16679592%2Fbible-museum-dc-review" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Yelp</a> page.</p>
<p id="iJgYSV">The eight-floor, 430,000-square-foot building offers a biblical garden, grand ballroom, and a restaurant by Chef Todd Gray, called Manna. For a sneak peek inside the new museum, check out <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2017/11/14/16651514/museum-bible-dc-photos">this Curbed DC photo tour</a>. </p>
https://dc.curbed.com/2017/11/20/16679592/bible-museum-dc-reviewMichelle Goldchain2017-11-14T14:56:24-05:002017-11-14T14:56:24-05:00Museum of the Bible: A photo tour of what to expect
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Take a look at the ins and outs of Washington, D.C.’s newest, most religious museum</p> <p id="Shb49l">On November 17, a brand new museum is set to open in Washington, D.C., that hopes to foster further dialogue on one of the most read books in the world, the Bible. The 430,000-square-foot Museum of the Bible will span across eight floors with a biblical garden, grand ballroom, and a restaurant by Chef Todd Gray, called Manna.</p>
<p id="Ok9f6U"> <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2016/11/22/13714000/bible-museum-technology">$42 million</a> worth of cutting edge technology will also be featured with a digital entry arcade ceiling, a digital guide accessible through a smart phone app, and a 360-degree projection mapping employed in the 472-seat performing arts theater.</p>
<p id="IszPhM">In order to get timed tickets in advance, guests will be able to reserve them <a href="https://www.museumofthebible.org/">online</a>. The <a href="https://www.museumofthebible.org/app/memberships">membership plans</a> start at $60 for an individual and $150 for families.</p>
<p id="yhQOzG">Curbed DC was able to get a quick peek inside the brand new museum, which is located at 400 4th Street SW. Below, get a photo tour of what to expect.</p>
<h3 id="Aq3zGg">Floor One</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VRXDD5UD2chgC6hRkKW4B8we6OU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678239/20171114_111101__1_.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="S1WBF9">Before entering the building, guests will be able to find two 40-foot-tall replica “Gutenberg Gates” at the entrance. Each bronze structure weighs over 12 tons and bears the words of Genesis 1:1-31 in Latin, as found in the Gutenberg Bible. Before landing in front of the Museum of the Bible, the gates were toured around the nation, from Los Angeles to Nashville to Oklahoma City and then to New York City.</p>
<p id="OuOGz9">Once inside the museum, there is a 140-foot-long digital arcade ceiling, reportedly one of the largest horizontally mounted digital screens in the U.S. There are a total of 555 LED panels hung there.</p>
<p id="kga3QJ">Finally, the first floor also features a museum shop, children’s gallery, and two smaller galleries for exhibits.</p>
<div><div class="c-image-grid c-image-grid__odd c-image-grid__odd-first-wide">
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Y3x9yYBEbJCIhwoWIzCqplyCa_o=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678311/20171114_111443.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NBMR6cV4aSG1TJU4pDGPLd93GEU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678315/20171114_121326.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iTblKj8iC8U2ikAs6i7CYNFnAxc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678317/20171114_121351.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
</div></div>
<h3 id="cjtUjv">Floor Two</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_9M7SCuVvXw9u3BsGee_7gswWbk=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678435/20171114_115847.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="BvkVLa">There are three main sections of this museum, each discussing the impact, narrative, and history of the Bible. In this floor, it’s all about the impact. This might be the most interactive floor out of all of them, offering tablets for learning about stories and even a room, called the Joshua Machine, for recording one’s own religious experiences.</p>
<div><div class="c-image-grid c-image-grid__odd c-image-grid__odd-first-wide">
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zMbNVF3IsDz4j1MNbd2OJ470_kc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678437/20171114_115952.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZDP_H4HEEjBSY_Nk0VlOM9jGphg=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678445/20171114_120021.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gpKOj8VDGYnMv6bF-GQoC-XDscE=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678449/20171114_120056.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
</div></div>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-ejE98hY_fMOlN162yVmpCFf0nY=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678451/20171114_120134.jpg">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mej_XXrfbO7L2ZEBGvhLSBdPvXk=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678455/20171114_120232.jpg">
</figure>
<div><div class="c-image-grid c-image-grid__odd">
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GZb6XPWpRq7xKFjdTDvNcLNTlHI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678459/20171114_120252.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3Wd4Dm3a1WcuOWdA6UKsQ3isUpQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678461/20171114_120406.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pbkF9suLT7ZzZ1PIsgGPUwJkGDM=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678463/20171114_120503.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
</div></div>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Vvs3OIv_qHDarCCBhhiMueO05nc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678465/20171114_120607.jpg">
</figure>
<h3 id="7tAZCu">Floor Three</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/idMmONp2yK2PtYStw6nowFM2v_w=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678413/20171114_115220.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="QXaoED">For those who may be unfamiliar with the stories in the Bible—and for those who simply want to see them come alive—this floor is all about showcasing what life may have been like during the Biblical times. There are paintings, food displays, and videos.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/09-tmt-l_G0_5ODgPOvzyOfM2Y8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678415/20171114_115324.jpg">
</figure>
<div><div class="c-image-grid c-image-grid__odd c-image-grid__odd-first-wide">
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OqqPp8s0s7X_F_fqmJNdIuafLDw=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678419/20171114_115425.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_bbaF9W9LP05l4_GIToJ7EVGjIQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678421/20171114_115434.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LsDhSvGNEYf96dZoWPix5AFRaFI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678417/20171114_115352.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
</div></div>
<h3 id="btfn6p">Floor Four</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Y4loLsVRPF5SJ4dr3zgdXNcUwjU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678347/20171114_113144.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="G2tMs2">Let’s take a look at the history of the Bible. Here, there are a variety of artifacts displayed from ancient Near Eastern cultures, dating as far back as 3,200 BC. Throughout, there are videos as well as interactive tablets for learning about the artifacts found here.</p>
<p id="2MCf5M">In the section with the alleged Dead Sea Scroll fragments, there are signs that read, “Scientific analysis of the ink and handwriting on these pieces continues.” In a “Book of Books” section, there are seven variations of the Bible shown, from the Jewish Bible to the Assyrian Bible.</p>
<div><div class="c-image-grid__wrapper">
<div class="c-image-grid c-image-grid__odd c-image-grid__odd-first-wide">
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/V2gwF85lcDQPXUs2CdWYnCOutok=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678367/20171114_113202.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xiE9OvUfSWJEO4KP0QAlDFeSHGA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678369/20171114_113222.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zTVTyoAUdL9-sttdzfSvwvnqvPw=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678375/20171114_113347.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
</div>
<p class="caption">The Gilgamesh Flood Tablet.</p>
</div></div>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tVQzty5hOFPBN_zlFxF0jHSfQEY=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678383/20171114_113510.jpg">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HI2zHCWkNvZRwleHdd-RUOvqn-w=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678391/20171114_113527.jpg">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zRWQyL4WhX5rBP3aVY6GSL6P8dM=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678393/20171114_113709.jpg">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IH2uobGW59Ln1P0upCpY6OfoIYA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678407/20171114_113914.jpg">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jDX0Yc-hMEJd-9sJtEy7zxFJNkI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678409/20171114_113926.jpg">
<figcaption>A page from the first edition of the Gutenberg Bible.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h3 id="ual34L">Floor Five</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/31Fip_nm882LBXHsgeOTJtcp7Io=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678341/20171114_112752.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="6icxhR">This floor includes the World Stage Theater and three upper galleries. Unfortunately, none of the areas on this floor were open. Move along.</p>
<h3 id="sniNCN">Floor Six</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mEzN3PzKi-CbDkRvIaj9pe0l8ls=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9678323/20171114_112511.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="57LDaJ">On the top floor, there is the Manna restaurant, the biblical garden, and the ballroom. There are also nearly 360-degree monumental views of the city. Can you spot the Washington Monument?</p>
<p id="zHeCiP"></p>
https://dc.curbed.com/2017/11/14/16651514/museum-bible-dc-photosMichelle Goldchain2017-10-23T12:17:18-04:002017-10-23T12:17:18-04:00Museum of the Bible's artifacts bring questions, concerns from scholars
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>This soon-to-open Washington, D.C., museum has dealt with accusations of smuggled artifacts and forgeries</p> <p id="Wgea1n">At a conference in 2014, Kipp Davis, a biblical scholar at Trinity Western University in Langley, Canada, publicly discussed the issues behind the many artifacts that will decorate the halls of Washington, D.C.’s planned Museum of the Bible. Over the past few months, these issues have been discussed in greater, more frequent detail as the opening of the museum nears.</p>
<p id="OoEkju">According to <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/10/can-museum-bible-overcome-sins-past">Davis</a>, six of the museum’s 13 fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient religious writings found in caves near Qumran, are likely forgeries. </p>
<p id="DknLDP">While Steve Green, president of Hobby Lobby and chairman of the Board of the Museum of the Bible, commissioned scholars to analyze the ancient texts that he has amassed in his own collection, Joel Baden, a Hebrew Bible scholar at Yale Divinity School, and Candida Moss, an expert on the New Testament at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, tell <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/10/can-museum-bible-overcome-sins-past"><em>Science</em></a><em> </em>that many of these scholars were inexperienced. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"><p id="UD3nUJ"></p></div>
<p id="e2NnMH">There has yet to be a comprehensive catalog of the museum’s full collection published. Because of this, there are still many artifacts whose provenances have yet to be clarified. </p>
<p id="6Xzes9">Every historic artifact should be able to have accompanying information as to when and where it was excavated and which archaeologists excavated it. The issue with having an incomplete record for each artifact is that it limits the ability for scholars to be able to determine the validity of the artifact and whether it has any worth. </p>
<p id="058tjn">Furthermore, <em>The Atlantic</em> confirmed in <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/hobby-lobby-smuggled-thousands-of-ancient-artifacts-out-of-iraq/532743/">July 2017</a> that Green purchased thousands of ancient artifacts that were smuggled out of Iraq in 2010 and 2011. As a result, Green agreed to pay a $3 million fine, while also forfeiting nearly 3,500 cuneiform tablets and clay seals.</p>
<p id="tFDyrV">In response to this news<em>, </em>Steven Bickley, the Museum of the Bible’s vice president of Marketing, Administration, and Finance, told <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/hobby-lobby-smuggled-thousands-of-ancient-artifacts-out-of-iraq/532743/"><em>The Atlantic</em></a>, “We don’t have any concerns about our collection. The artifacts that were referred to were never in our collection.” </p>
<p id="RYGRVX">The Museum of the Bible’s Director of Collections and New Testament scholar David Trobisch also tells <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/10/can-museum-bible-overcome-sins-past"><em>Science</em></a><em> </em>that the museum has not accepted every item offered from Green, who has one of the world’s largest collection of biblical texts and artifacts, totaling around 40,000 objects, according to <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/can-hobby-lobby-buy-the-bible/419088/"><em>The Atlantic</em></a>. </p>
<p id="KeeS5I">“We felt that the records—not that they were wrong, but they weren’t enough,” said Trobisch. </p>
<div class="c-float-left"><p id="ZMOXwx"></p></div>
<p id="J4D0v0">Atop all of this, there are also scholars who worry that the artifacts in the museum will be used in order to attempt to deem the Bible historically accurate and immutable. While there will be 14 versions of the Bible displayed in the center of the museum’s history floor, <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/10/can-museum-bible-overcome-sins-past"><em>Science</em></a><em> </em>notes that the museum does not delve into the history or significance of these variations.</p>
<p id="SQ19Wz"><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/can-hobby-lobby-buy-the-bible/419088/"><em>The Atlantic</em></a><em> </em>further reported:</p>
<blockquote><p id="CncY3X">“[The Green family is] unlikely to promote their socially conservative views openly in the museum, but its exhibits may give them a prominent, seemingly authoritative platform from which to push back against what they see as the secular tide in American politics.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="7H158s">Christopher Rollston, George Washington University’s Associate Professor of Northwest Semitic languages and literatures, tells <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/10/can-museum-bible-overcome-sins-past"><em>Science</em></a><em>, </em>“People are going to see that which they want to see in these exhibits.”</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><p id="YPpYcI"></p></div>
<p id="HzAESs">The Museum of the Bible is located two blocks south of the National Mall. With <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2017/8/11/16131366/bible-museum-free-admission-dc-washington">free admission</a> (and a $15 suggested donation), it will open its doors to the public on November 17. </p>
<p id="2N3LBy">The 430,000-square-foot museum will span across eight floors with a restaurant and “biblical garden” included. There will also be a performing arts theater, a grand ballroom, and event space. <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2016/11/22/13714000/bible-museum-technology">$42 million</a> worth of cutting edge technology will also be featured with a digital entry arcade ceiling, a digital guide accessible through a smart phone app, and a 360-degree projection mapping employed in the 472-seat performing arts theater.</p>
<p id="KM9R9o">The cost of the museum totals <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/oct/16/inside-the-sprawling-controversial-500m-museum-of-the-bible">$500 million</a>.</p>
<p id="2gDktM">• <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/10/can-museum-bible-overcome-sins-past">Can the Museum of the Bible overcome the sins of the past? </a>[Science]</p>
<p id="tmyqaa">• <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/hobby-lobby-smuggled-thousands-of-ancient-artifacts-out-of-iraq/532743/">Hobby Lobby Purchased Thousands of Ancient Artifacts Smuggled Out of Iraq</a> [The Atlantic]</p>
<p id="7BMPTK">• <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/oct/16/inside-the-sprawling-controversial-500m-museum-of-the-bible">Inside the sprawling, controversial $500m Museum of the Bible</a> [The Guardian]</p>
<p id="8MNIWN">• <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/can-hobby-lobby-buy-the-bible/419088/">Can Hobby Lobby Buy the Bible?</a> [The Atlantic]</p>
https://dc.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16520244/bible-museum-artifacts-scholars-dcMichelle Goldchain2017-08-11T11:24:53-04:002017-08-11T11:24:53-04:00D.C.’s Museum of the Bible plans free admission
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Expect the District’s newest, most religious museum to open November 17</p> <p id="II9wVv">Only three blocks from the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., is getting a brand new museum, totally dedicated to the history and legacy of the Bible. The Museum of the Bible will open November 17 with free general admission and the ability to reserve timed-entry tickets. </p>
<p id="4mdyy5">The museum will suggest a $15 donation with no obligation to pay anything, according to a press release. </p>
<p id="WVKu79">In a statement, Museum of the Bible President Cary Summers said, "Our mission is to invite all people to engage with the Bible. We can think of no more fundamental way to give people access to the treasures and experiences inside this museum than to offer public admission coupled with the ability to reserve timed-entry tickets."</p>
<p id="isA5wo"></p>
<p id="49JGBa">In order to get timed tickets in advance, guests will be able to reserve them <a href="https://www.museumofthebible.org/">online</a>, starting August 28 at 10 a.m. Members of the museum will get access early on August 14 at 10 a.m. The <a href="https://www.museumofthebible.org/app/memberships">membership plans</a> start at $60 for an individual and $150 for families.</p>
<p id="WnnX0B">The 430,000-square-foot museum will span across eight floors with a restaurant and “biblical garden” included. There will also be a performing arts theater, a grand ballroom, and event space. <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2016/11/22/13714000/bible-museum-technology">$42 million</a> worth of cutting edge technology will also be featured with a digital entry arcade ceiling, a digital guide accessible through a smart phone app, and a 360-degree projection mapping employed in the 472-seat performing arts theater.</p>
<p id="JSsbv4">Once opened, this museum will be the <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865607070/Bible-museums-across-the-US-range-from-scholarly-to-colorful.html">ninth</a> museum in the U.S. focused on the Bible and its stories.</p>
<p id="0ot92K">Take a look at the construction progress in <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2016/9/27/13079842/museum-bible-construction">this Curbed DC article</a> with more details on what to expect from each floor of the museum.</p>
<p id="5j55z7"></p>
<p id="4GQdin">• <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2016/9/27/13079842/museum-bible-construction">The Museum of the Bible’s construction progress, in photos</a> [Curbed DC]</p>
https://dc.curbed.com/2017/8/11/16131366/bible-museum-free-admission-dc-washingtonMichelle Goldchain2016-11-22T13:35:58-05:002016-11-22T13:35:58-05:00D.C.’s Bible Museum to debut with $42M worth of cutting edge technology
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Expect a digital guide, projection mapping, and a digital entry arcade ceiling</p> <p id="OePNGj">Washington, D.C.’s newest religious museum is set to unveil next year with a location only three blocks from the U.S. Capitol. Recently, The Museum of the Bible released information on the $42 million high-tech experience visitors will experience when they walk through the 430,000-square-foot project’s front doors.</p>
<p id="hXTLBW"></p>
<p id="WYePvz">With the goal to create the most technologically advanced museum in the world, the museum is expected to launch with a digital guide that a press release describes as “a powerful technology ecosystem for which a <a href="https://demoss.com/newsrooms/museumofthebible/background/fact-sheet-levono-phab2pro">customized mobile device</a> the size of a large smartphone serves as a guest's primary interface.”</p>
<p id="gtzysr"></p>
<p id="5pCXDz">The mobile device will have an accuracy within six inches and will allow for 3-D interactivity with biblical artifacts and other exhibit features. There will also be a personalized, running commentary available in 10 languages.</p>
<p id="FFaeLr"></p>
<p id="bK0Z6t">Along with the digital guide, there will also be a 360-degree projection mapping employed in a 472-seat Performing Arts Hall. In this hall, visitors should expect 17 4K projectors that will turn the entire venue into a digital canvas.</p>
<p id="dnzWvx"></p>
<p id="CVyR0d">When visitors first enter the museum, they should expect to see a digital entry arcade ceiling, measuring 140 feet by 15 feet with 555 LED panels with five-millimeter pixel pitch.</p>
<p id="JwC07P"></p>
<p id="6CXao0">All in all, the entire museum will feature 384 monitors, 93 projectors, 83 interactive elements, 12 theaters, and 200 miles of low-voltage cabling.</p>
https://dc.curbed.com/2016/11/22/13714000/bible-museum-technologyMichelle Goldchain2016-09-27T16:16:29-04:002016-09-27T16:16:29-04:00The Museum of the Bible’s construction progress, in photos
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Washington, D.C.’s newest museum is scheduled to open on time in November 2017</p> <p id="SzqJ3u">There are already <a href="http://national.deseretnews.com/article/1938/8-unique-bible-museums-across-the-us.html">eight museums</a> in the U.S. that are focused on the Bible and its stories, and soon there will be a ninth, located in Washington, D.C. According to David Greenbaum, vice president of SmithGroupJJR, the new 430,000-square-foot museum will be the biggest museum in the nation dedicated to the Bible once it opens in November 2017.</p>
<p id="hllhLF"></p>
<p id="kv7mju">The <a href="http://dc.curbed.com/2015/7/24/9937054/bible-museum-washington-dc-construction">last time</a> Curbed DC toured the construction site, the building was still gutted, and the floors were being removed. Now, it’s easier to see what the vision for the space will be with the walls placed, the plastering being executed, and the two-story, zinc-and-glass volume shaped like an ark almost complete. The entire structure will be roughly 12 stories high, but will only feature eight levels, two of which will be underground.</p>
<p id="5F1OoQ"></p>
<p id="uhaBqb">Adjacent to the museum, there will be a 30,000-square-foot addition installed on the top of the Washington Office Center for offices, classrooms, and residences for visiting scholars. While connected to the museum, this section of the museum will be closed off to the public.</p>
<p id="2DF5zo"></p>
<p id="TJBpH7">On the facade of the building, two different colors of brick will be used, handmade in Denmark. This difference in colors are meant to refer to palimpsest, which is when writing is done on a manuscript overtop the traces of writing previously done.</p>
<p id="bOqwTH"></p>
<p id="SkTGyv">In the entrance, a roughly 40-foot-high door will be constructed with milled brass panels meant to reflect the typeface of the <a href="http://www.history.com/news/7-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-gutenberg-bible">Gutenberg Bible</a> along with stained glass with a design depicting parts of the manuscript.</p>
<p id="v7KGf0"></p>
<p id="Q6PhVA">Originally, the 1923-built building served as a refrigeration warehouse with trains running through it. By utilizing the space where the trains used to enter, the developer is able to create an expansive main hall with sky high ceilings. This hall will eventually feature a 150-foot-long LED screen on the ceiling. Beside the main hall, there will be a museum shop and a security area with technology like X-rays and magnetometers.</p>
<p id="BzeOGk"></p>
<p id="jjrnAt">On the second level, visitors will be able to look down on the main level. Eventually, a frosted glass rail will be installed in place of the wooden boards currently there. The level will also house a coffee shop and <a href="http://www.wpamurals.com/">Works Progress Administration</a> (WPA) murals. This floor will also focus on how the Bible has impacted subjects like fashion, sports, and music.</p>
<p id="6ZKJiQ"></p>
<p id="qUcg04">The third floor will focus on the narratives of the Bible. In the above photograph, there is a steam machine that will be used to create a "burning bush." There will also be a New Testament Theater and an Old Testament Theater.</p>
<p id="eLReoj"></p>
<p id="NPY1ts">The third floor will also have a recreation of a village in Nazareth. The above photograph shows the space that will hold a synagogue.</p>
<p id="ZQJag0">On the fourth floor, it will focus on the history of the Bible.</p>
<p id="zcamec"></p>
<p id="Guxqkv">The fifth floor offers a balcony with views of the National Building Museum and U.S. Capitol. This space will house a roughly 500-seat performance hall, 100-seat lecture hall, classrooms, and offices.</p>
<p id="ohk6Ev"></p>
<p id="5sTiS8">In the above photograph, viewers can see the space that will eventually house the performance hall.</p>
<p id="XPQDJV"></p>
<p id="NX6K1u">To get to the restaurant, garden, and 500-seat ballroom on the sixth floor, visitors will have to use a glass walkway. The ballroom will be known as "The Gathering Room."</p>
<p id="bNIDrq"></p>
<p id="Pp1rjx">Greenbaum was unable to disclose which chef will head the new restaurant in the Museum of the Bible, but did say that he or she is a "significant chef" in Washington, D.C. The restaurant will serve foods found in the Bible. No alcohol will be served, but there will be mocktails.</p>
<p id="1p19B1">By November 2016, the developer will begin installing the approximately 40,000 Biblical artifacts collected by the President of Hobby Lobby Steve Green into the museum. The entrance of the museum is on 4th and D streets SW, a location only blocks away from other Washington, D.C. landmarks like the National Building Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian.</p>
https://dc.curbed.com/2016/9/27/13079842/museum-bible-constructionMichelle Goldchain2015-08-19T14:20:32-04:002015-08-19T14:20:32-04:00Bible Museum Teams With Israel's Leading Archaeological Org.
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>When the Museum of the Bible opens in the <strong>fall of 2017</strong>, it will feature a top-floor gallery with a selection from the Israel Antiquities Authority's (IAA) collection of two million biblical artifacts. It was recently reported in a press release that the Museum of the Bible just signed a major long-term alliance with Israel's leading archaeological organization. The artifacts that the IAA will lend the <strong>$400 million</strong> museum will be excavated from 39 active archeological digs around Israel. Before the deal, the Museum of the Bible was set to house <strong>approximately 40,000 biblical artifacts</strong> owned by Hobby Lobby President Steve Green. The museum is located two blocks away from the National Mall and will feature six above-ground floors and two below-ground floors as well as a <strong>500-seat performing arts center</strong> and ballroom. There will be three main exhibition floors, each dedicated to the Bible's impact, narrative, and history. The architect for the project is SmithGroupJJR. Want an inside look on how much progress has been made so far on the museum? See all the photos <a href="http://dc.curbed.com/archives/2015/07/bible-museum-washington-dc-construction.php">here</a>. See what else you should expect from the Museum of the Bible <a href="http://dc.curbed.com/archives/2015/02/the-bible-museum-will-begin-construction-tomorrow.php">here</a>.<br>· <a href="http://www.popville.com/2015/08/museum-of-the-bible-has-inked-a-major-new-long-term-alliance-with-the-israel-antiquities-authority-to-display-a-selection-from-the-two-million-ancient-artifacts/">"Museum of the Bible has inked a major new long-term alliance with the Israel Antiquities Authority to display a selection from the two million ancient artifacts"</a> [PoPVille]<br>· <a href="http://dc.curbed.com/archives/2015/02/the-bible-museum-will-begin-construction-tomorrow.php">What to Expect From The Museum of The Bible</a> [Curbed DC]<br>· <a href="http://dc.curbed.com/archives/2015/07/bible-museum-washington-dc-construction.php">Exclusive Photos Inside the Bible Museum Construction Site</a> [Curbed DC]</p>
https://dc.curbed.com/2015/8/19/9928946/bible-museum-artifacts-israel-antiquities-authorityMichelle Goldchain