17 Photos Take You Inside Museum of the Bible, Opening in 2017

Josh M. Shepherd : Nov 20, 2014
Bound4Life.com

"Our research shows that an estimated 2 million people per year will visit the museum once it opens." -Shannon Bennett

[Bound4LIFE.com]—A new multimedia history museum is now under construction in Washington, DC—an eight-story, 430,000 square-foot experience dedicated to the best-selling, most-read, and most-banned book of all time: the Bible.

Under new ownership, the former Washington Design Center (left) is currently being reconstructed into the Museum of the Bible—set to open Fall 2017 (Smith Group JJR)

Slated to open Fall 2017, the Museum of the Bible will be a significant addition to the city's cultural and tourism landscape, offering a scholarly approach to the ancient biblical text—with a modern presentation.

Shannon Bennett gives the big picture on where Museum of the Bible will be located. (Museum of the Bible under construction-Bennett leads a tour through the accessible areas of the under-construction museum/Photos by Josh Shepherd, unless otherwise indicated)

"Our research shows that an estimated 2 million people per year will visit the museum once it opens," says Shannon Bennett, Community Relations Director for Museum of the Bible—part of her presentation during an on-site tour.

The driving force behind the new museum is Oklahoma businessman Steve Green, President of Hobby Lobby Stores. In June, he and his family won a contentious Supreme Court case—a decision hailed by the pro-life movement as a victory for religious freedom.

The Washington Post recently chronicled Green's personal journey to becoming Chairman of Museum of the Bible:

"The product of an Oklahoma family filled with pastors, Green has long been driven to spread the story of the Bible. He has poured millions into translation projects in developing nations and is a major benefactor to conservative evangelical universities, including Oral Roberts and Baylor." (Photo: Steve Green met Pope Francis this March, when a selection of biblical artifacts in the Green Collection were exhibited at the Vatican/ Museum of the Bible)

After purchasing a few valuable artifacts beginning in 2009 during the economic recession, within a few years Green gradually acquired one of the world's largest collection of biblical relics and manuscripts—now nearly 50,000 items, from the time of Abraham (father of the Jewish nation) to the modern era.

Green's team of scholars preview the museum's vast collection in a new video, click here to watch.

"We have all sorts of artifacts that tell the story," says Shannon Bennett. "Stained glass windows, Julia Ward Howe's hand-written 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' lyrics, Dead Sea Scroll fragments — and we place them in immersive environments." (Museum of the Bible - A rendering of "Abraham's Tent," an immersive storytelling space in development for Museum of the Bible/BRC Imagination Arts)

But Green will not purchase merely any relic. "Each item in the collection helps tell one of three stories," notes Bennett.

She explains, "First, to reveal how the Bible was translated and transmitted throughout the ages; to demonstrate the Bible's impact on culture, including government, the arts, sciences, even humor; and finally, to demonstrate the narrative of the Bible itself, with artifacts that illustrate the stories." (Museum of the Bible - Bennett stands outside what will be Museum of the Bible's front entrance)

The heart of the eight-story museum will be those three narrative ideas — entire floors dedicated to the Bible's Historical Journey, Narrative Stories and Global Impact.

"We take a strong scholarly approach with the museum; this is not about proselytizing, rather tracing the Bible's journey across history," says Bennett. (Museum of the Bible/artist rendering/Impact floor/Shown in an artist's rendering, the Impact floor of Museum of the Bible has an aesthetic look inspired by the Apple Store (Smith Group JJR)

She hints that other prominent institutions are catching the museum's vision, noting, "We are in discussions with other prestigious international museums regarding their potential involvement in the DC project."

Even the artistic elements of the museum, like stained glass, will tell part of the story. "Stained glass is significant because, in the Middle Ages, most people were illiterate," Bennett explains. "People learned the stories of the Bible through the stained glass." (Museum of the Bible-stained glass/Bennett shows illustrations of the museum's stained glass collection)

The museum's unique blend of ancient art, touchscreen technology and in-depth scholarship is no small project...

Read more and view more photos at Bound4Life, click here.