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[[Image:CMpix1.JPG|thumb|300px|The front of the Creation Museum while under construction in 2005.]]

[[Image:CMpix1.JPG|thumb|The front of the Creation Museum while under construction in 2005.]]

The '''Creation Museum''' is a 60,000 square foot [[museum]]<ref name="creationmuseum" /><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14122311/ Museum Brings Creationism to Life], MSNBC, says "50,000 square-foot-museum"</ref> designed to promote a [[Young Earth Creationism|Young-Earth Creationist]] view of history with state of the art displays and presentations. It cost 27 million dollars to construct and is located in Petersburg, [[Kentucky]], just outside of [[Cincinnati]]; a location chosen due to having almost two thirds of the [[United States]] population within a 650-[[mile]] distance.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070520/ts_alt_afp/uspoliticsreligion_070520222942 Dinosaurs frolic with Adam and Eve at creationism museum]</ref> It opened its doors to the public on May 28, 2007, exceeding expectations by receiving 4,000 visitors on the first day. Membership to the museum, which includes annual passes, now exceeds 10,260<ref>Answers update, volume 14, issue 8, August 2007, pg. 3</ref>.

The '''Creation Museum''' is a 60,000 square foot [[museum]] designed to promote a [[Young Earth Creationism|Young-Earth Creationist]] view of history with state of the art displays and presentations.<ref name="creationmuseum" /><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14122311/ Museum Brings Creationism to Life], MSNBC, says "50,000 square-foot-museum"</ref> It cost $27 million to construct and is located in Petersburg, [[Kentucky]], just outside of [[Cincinnati]]; a location chosen due to having almost two thirds of the [[United States]] population within a 650-[[mile]] distance.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070520/ts_alt_afp/uspoliticsreligion_070520222942 Dinosaurs frolic with Adam and Eve at creationism museum]</ref> It opened its doors to the public on May 28, 2007, exceeding expectations by receiving 4,000 visitors on the first day. Membership to the museum, which includes annual passes, now exceeds 10,260.<ref>Answers update, volume 14, issue 8, August 2007, pg. 3</ref>

   

   

The Creation Museum presents a "walk through history"<ref name="creationmuseum">[http://creationmuseum.org Creation Museum]</ref> with a basis on a straightforward reading of the [[Bible]], particularly the early chapters of [[Genesis]].

The Creation Museum presents a "walk through history"<ref name="creationmuseum">[http://creationmuseum.org Creation Museum]</ref> with a basis on a straightforward reading of the [[Bible]], particularly the early chapters of [[Genesis]].

The exhibits are designed, for "[a] fully engaging, sensory experience,"<ref name="creationmuseum" /> to illustrate [[Earth]]'s history and origin from a [[Young Earth Creationist]] perspective. The enterprise is supported by [[Ken Ham]], founder of [[Answers in Genesis]].

The exhibits are designed, for "[a] fully engaging, sensory experience,"<ref name="creationmuseum" /> to illustrate [[Earth]]'s history and origin from a [[Young Earth Creationist]] perspective. The enterprise is supported by [[Ken Ham]], founder of [[Answers in Genesis]].

On its opening, the ''[[New York Times]]'' gave it a page one review which commented:  

On its opening, the ''[[New York Times]]'' gave it a page one review which commented:  

{{cquote|Whether you are willing to grant the premises of this museum almost becomes irrelevant as you are drawn into its mixture of spectacle and narrative. Its 60,000 square feet of exhibits are often stunningly designed by Patrick Marsh, who, like the entire museum staff, declares adherence to the ministry's views; he evidently also knows the lure of secular sensations, since he designed the "[[Jaws (film, 1975)|Jaws]]" and "[[King Kong]]" attractions at [[Universal Studios]] in [[Florida]].... The Creation Museum offers an alternate world that has its fascinations, even for a [[skeptic]] wary of the effect of so many unanswered assertions. He leaves feeling a bit like [[Adam]] emerging from [[Eden]], all the world before him, freshly amazed at its strangeness and extravagant peculiarities.<ref>Rothstein, Edward (2007) "Museum Review: Adam and Eve in the Land of the Dinosaurs," ''The New York Times,'' May 24, 2007, p. 1; also [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/arts/24crea.html?_r=1&ex=1180670400&en=5856f2432a6c1&oref=slogin online].</ref>}}

{{cquote|Whether you are willing to grant the premises of this museum almost becomes irrelevant as you are drawn into its mixture of spectacle and narrative. Its 60,000 square feet of exhibits are often stunningly designed by Patrick Marsh, who, like the entire museum staff, declares adherence to the ministry's views; he evidently also knows the lure of secular sensations, since he designed the "Jaws" and "King Kong" attractions at Universal Studios in Florida.... The Creation Museum offers an alternate world that has its fascinations, even for a skeptic wary of the effect of so many unanswered assertions. He leaves feeling a bit like Adam emerging from Eden, all the world before him, freshly amazed at its strangeness and extravagant peculiarities.<ref>Rothstein, Edward (2007) "Museum Review: Adam and Eve in the Land of the Dinosaurs," ''The New York Times,'' May 24, 2007, p. 1; also [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/arts/24crea.html?_r=1&ex=1180670400&en=5856f2432a6c1&oref=slogin online].</ref>}}

==Controversy==

==Controversy==

There has been much controversy since the Kentucky-based Creation Museum was announced. Lawrence Krauss (a [[physicist]] and [[astronomer]]<ref>[http://www.phys.cwru.edu/faculty/index.php?krauss Lawrence Krauss, Faculty Page]</ref>) stated that the museum is both a "fraud" and "hypocritical" because it "...repeatedly misrepresents the process and results of [[science]] and distorts the scientific record. Yet in every case it takes advantage of the technical wizardry of science to get its point across, with a series of dazzling [[animatronic]] displays and explanations"<ref> Kraus, L, 2007 quoted in "Museum of Misinformation", New Scientist, May 26th 2007, p24</ref>

There has been much controversy since the Kentucky-based Creation Museum was announced. Lawrence Krauss (a [[physicist]] and [[astronomer]]<ref>[http://www.phys.cwru.edu/faculty/index.php?krauss Lawrence Krauss, Faculty Page]</ref>) stated that the museum is both a "fraud" and "hypocritical" because it "repeatedly misrepresents the process and results of [[science]] and distorts the scientific record. Yet in every case it takes advantage of the technical wizardry of science to get its point across, with a series of dazzling [[animatronic]] displays and explanations"<ref> Kraus, L, 2007 quoted in "Museum of Misinformation", New Scientist, May 26th 2007, p24</ref>

Greg Neyman, of [[Answers In Creation]], expressed concern about non-[[Christian]] museum visitors.  "They will see the museum, and recognize its faulty science, and will be turned away from the church.  This will increase the already widening gap between the unchurched and the churched. ... [[Atheist]]ic people and organizations are increasingly attacking the [[church]], because they perceive that the findings of modern science cannot be reconciled with the [[Bible]]."<ref>Answers in Creation - Creation Museum Media Mania, March 30, 2007[http://www.answersincreation.org/rebuttal/aig/daily/2007/20070330_creation_museum.htm]</ref>

Greg Neyman, of [[Answers In Creation]], expressed concern about non-[[Christian]] museum visitors.  "They will see the museum, and recognize its faulty science, and will be turned away from the church.  This will increase the already widening gap between the unchurched and the churched. ... [[Atheist]]ic people and organizations are increasingly attacking the [[church]], because they perceive that the findings of modern science cannot be reconciled with the [[Bible]]."<ref>Answers in Creation - Creation Museum Media Mania, March 30, 2007[http://www.answersincreation.org/rebuttal/aig/daily/2007/20070330_creation_museum.htm]</ref>

Even prior to its opening it was visited by comedian and known [[atheist]] [[Bill Maher]], who came with a film crew shooting a documentary on religion.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55209 Creation Museum's 1st visitor? Bill Maher] worldnetdaily.com April 16, 2007 </ref>

Even prior to its opening it was visited by comedian and known [[atheist]] [[Bill Maher]], who came with a film crew shooting a documentary on religion.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55209 Creation Museum's 1st visitor? Bill Maher] worldnetdaily.com April 16, 2007 </ref>

== Creation Museum buffoonery ==

== Atheist buffoonery ==

 

''See also:'' [[Essay: PZ Myers embarrasses himself at the Creation Museum|PZ Myers embarrasses himself at the Creation Museum]] - [[satire]]  

''See also:'' [[Essay: PZ Myers embarrasses himself at the Creation Museum|PZ Myers embarrasses himself at the Creation Museum]] - [[satire]]  

In August 2009, [[atheism|atheist]] and [[evolution|evolutionist]] [[PZ Myers]] led a group of over 300 atheist and [[agnostic]] students on a tour of the Creation Museum.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=8280168 "Creation Museum: Is This How World Began?" (ABC News)]</ref> During the visit, the 52-year-old Myers had noticeably greater difficulty than others climbing on and off a [[dinosaur]] model due to the fact that he was overweight and out of shape.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQQl2TMrgbM VIDEO] In addition, the purpose of the dinosaur model is clearly for children to sit on for photographs.<ref>http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/aroundtheworld/2009/08/16/children-and-the-creation-museum/</ref><ref>[http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/53237252.html "A firebrand visits Creation Museum" (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)]</ref> Myers donned a borrowed cowboy hat and was egged on by the cheers and laughter of the students.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQQl2TMrgbM</ref>

In August 2009, [[atheism|atheist]] and [[evolution|evolutionist]] [[PZ Myers]] led a group of over 300 atheist and [[agnostic]] students on a tour of the Creation Museum.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=8280168 "Creation Museum: Is This How World Began?" (ABC News)]</ref> During the visit, the 52-year-old Myers had noticeably greater difficulty than others climbing on and off a [[dinosaur]] model due to the fact that he was overweight and out of shape.<ref> See [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQQl2TMrgbM this video].</ref> In addition, the purpose of the dinosaur model is clearly for children to sit on for photographs.<ref>http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/aroundtheworld/2009/08/16/children-and-the-creation-museum/</ref><ref>[http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/53237252.html "A firebrand visits Creation Museum" (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)]</ref> Myers donned a borrowed cowboy hat and was egged on by the cheers and laughter of the students.<ref>See [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQQl2TMrgbM this video].</ref>

==Other Creation Museums==

==Other Creation Museums==