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[[File:800px-AiG museum.jpg|thumb|300px|Front of the Creation Museum.]]

[[File:800px-AiG museum.jpg|thumb|300px|Front of the Creation Museum.]]

[[File:800px-AiG creation museum rear view.jpg|thumb|300px|Back of the museum.]]

[[File:800px-AiG creation museum rear view.jpg|thumb|300px|Back of the museum.]]

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>  The museum cost $27 million. It is located in Petersburg, [[Kentucky]], just outside of [[Cincinnati]], a location chosen because almost two-thirds of the [[United States]] population lives 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, exceeds 10,260.<ref>Answers update, volume 14, issue 8, August 2007, pg. 3</ref> The museum recevied 404,000 visitors in its first year.<ref>Ross, Larry (September 15, 2016). [http://www.nkytribune.com/2016/09/answers-in-genesis-reports-strong-attendance-in-first-two-months-of-operation-for-williamstownsark-encounter/ Answers in Genesis reports strong attendance in first two months of operation for Williamstown’s Ark Encounter]. ''Northern Kentucky Tribune''. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/about/press/2017/05/26/record-crowds-creation-museum-celebrates-10th-anniversary/ Record Crowds as Creation Museum Celebrates 10th Anniversary]. ''Answers in Genesis''. May 26, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref> Because of the opening of the [[Ark Encounter]] in July 2016, attendance at the Creation Museum nearly tripled its average annual attendance,<ref>Wartman, Scott (July 7, 2017). [http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/07/07/creationist-parks-still-potent-draw-visitors-controversy/425293001/ Creationist parks still a potent draw for visitors and controversy]. ''The Cincinnati Enquirer''. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref> with the Ark Encounter itself hosting 1 million people.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/about/press/2017/07/06/ark-encounter-makes-enormous-impact-in-first-year/ Ark Encounter Makes Enormous Impact in First Year]. ''Answers in Genesis''. July 6, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref><ref>Smith, Lawrence (July 6, 2017). [http://www.wdrb.com/story/35827195/1-year-after-opening-ark-encounters-attendance-and-impact-is-growing 1 year after opening, Ark Encounter's attendance and impact is growing]. ''WDRB''. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref>

The '''Creation Museum''' is a 60,000 square foot [[museum]] designed to promote a pseudoscientific [[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>  The museum cost $27 million. It is located in Petersburg, [[Kentucky]], just outside of [[Cincinnati]], a location chosen because almost two-thirds of the [[United States]] population lives 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, exceeds 10,260.<ref>Answers update, volume 14, issue 8, August 2007, pg. 3</ref> The museum recevied 404,000 visitors in its first year.<ref>Ross, Larry (September 15, 2016). [http://www.nkytribune.com/2016/09/answers-in-genesis-reports-strong-attendance-in-first-two-months-of-operation-for-williamstownsark-encounter/ Answers in Genesis reports strong attendance in first two months of operation for Williamstown’s Ark Encounter]. ''Northern Kentucky Tribune''. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/about/press/2017/05/26/record-crowds-creation-museum-celebrates-10th-anniversary/ Record Crowds as Creation Museum Celebrates 10th Anniversary]. ''Answers in Genesis''. May 26, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref> Because of the opening of the [[Ark Encounter]] in July 2016, attendance at the Creation Museum nearly tripled its average annual attendance,<ref>Wartman, Scott (July 7, 2017). [http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/07/07/creationist-parks-still-potent-draw-visitors-controversy/425293001/ Creationist parks still a potent draw for visitors and controversy]. ''The Cincinnati Enquirer''. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref> with the Ark Encounter itself hosting 1 million people.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/about/press/2017/07/06/ark-encounter-makes-enormous-impact-in-first-year/ Ark Encounter Makes Enormous Impact in First Year]. ''Answers in Genesis''. July 6, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref><ref>Smith, Lawrence (July 6, 2017). [http://www.wdrb.com/story/35827195/1-year-after-opening-ark-encounters-attendance-and-impact-is-growing 1 year after opening, Ark Encounter's attendance and impact is growing]. ''WDRB''. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</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 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 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]].

==Controversy==

==Controversy==

There has been much controversy since the Kentucky-based Creation Museum was announced, and it has been widely criticized by those who oppose the literal-historical view of Genesis because it differs with the Theory of Evolution.

There has been much controversy since the Kentucky-based Creation ''Museum'' was announced, and it has been widely criticized by those who oppose the literal-historical view of Genesis because it differs with the Theory of Evolution and science.

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>

Lawrence Krauss (a [[physicist]] and [[astronomer]]<ref>[http://www.phys.cwru.edu/faculty/index.php?krauss Lawrence Krauss, Faculty Page]</ref>) correctly 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>[http://www.answersincreation.org/rebuttal/aig/daily/2007/20070330_creation_museum.htm Answers in Creation - Creation Museum Media Mania, March 30, 2007]</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>[http://www.answersincreation.org/rebuttal/aig/daily/2007/20070330_creation_museum.htm Answers in Creation - Creation Museum Media Mania, March 30, 2007]</ref>

''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]]ist [[PZ Myers]] led a group of over 300 atheist and [[agnostic]] students on a tour of the Creation Museum.<ref>[https://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 name="this video">See [https://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 name="this video"/>

In August 2009, [[atheism|atheist]] and [[evolution]]ist [[PZ Myers]] led a group of over 300 atheist and [[agnostic]] students on a tour of the Creation Museum.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=8280168 "Creation Museum: Is This How World Began?" (ABC News)]</ref> .<ref name="this video">See [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQQl2TMrgbM this video].</ref>>

==Other Creation Museums==

==Other Creation Museums==

''For a more exhaustive list, see [http://creationwiki.org/Creation_museum Creation museum] at [[CreationWiki]]''

''For a more exhaustive list, see [http://creationwiki.org/Creation_museum Creation museum] at [[CreationWiki]]''

*The [[Creation Evidence Museum]] in Glen Rose, [[Texas]], was established in 1984.  According to its web site, the museum presents "scientific evidence for creation and [[Intelligent design|design]] by a personal Creator", and "makes a unique contribution, demonstrating that  man and [[dinosaur]] lived contemporaneously".<ref>[http://www.creationevidence.org/ Creation Evidence Museum]</ref>  

*The [[Creation Evidence Museum]] in Glen Rose, [[Texas]], was established in 1984.  According to its web site, the museum presents "scientific evidence for creation and [[Intelligent design|design]] by a personal Creator", and "makes a unique contribution, demonstrating that  man and [[dinosaur]] lived contemporaneously".<ref>[http://www.creationevidence.org/ Creation Evidence Museum]</ref> Which is funny because there is no evidence of any of that.

*[[Dinosaur Adventure Land]] in Pensacola, [[Florida]], a "theme park" consisting of a discovery center and museum, was established in 2001. Its founder, minister [[Kent Hovind]], said "There are a lot of creationists that are really smart and debate the intellectuals, but the kids are bored after five minutes. You're missing 98 percent of the population if you only go the intellectual route." The site has no rides. Demonstrations include the Nerve-Wracking Ball, a bowling ball suspended from a rope. Visitors are challenged to stand at a specific location, while a park guide carefully launches the ball from another specific location, and demonstrate their "faith in God's laws"&mdash;in this case, that a swinging object will never come back higher than the point from which it took off&mdash;by standing without moving or flinching as the ball comes close to their face.<ref>Goodenough, Abby (2004), "Darwin-Free Fun For Creationists", ''The New York Times,'' May 1, 2004, p. 7</ref>

*[[Dinosaur Adventure Land]] in Pensacola, [[Florida]], a "theme park" consisting of a discovery center and museum, was established in 2001. Its founder, fraud [[Kent Hovind]], said "There are a lot of creationists that are really smart and debate the intellectuals, but the kids are bored after five minutes. You're missing 98 percent of the population if you only go the intellectual route." The site has no rides. However there are no intelligent creationists so he is wrong. Demonstrations include the Nerve-Wracking Ball, a bowling ball suspended from a rope. Visitors are challenged to stand at a specific location, while a park guide carefully launches the ball from another specific location, and demonstrate their "faith in God's laws"&mdash;in this case, that a swinging object will never come back higher than the point from which it took off&mdash;by standing without moving or flinching as the ball comes close to their face.<ref>Goodenough, Abby (2004), "Darwin-Free Fun For Creationists", ''The New York Times,'' May 1, 2004, p. 7</ref>

*A much more modest creation museum, the [[Big Valley Creation Science Museum]],<ref>http://www.bvcsm.com/</ref> opened on June 5, 2007.<ref>[http://www.bvcsm.com/ Big Valley Creation Science Museum], museum website</ref> in Big Valley, [[Canada]].<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKN2547663920070529 Canada's first museum of creation opens in Alberta], Reuters, May 29, 2007</ref> It includes displays on "[[Fossil]]s and the [[Great Flood|Flood]]," a set of [[England|English]] scrolls tracing the family of [[King Henry VI]] back to the [[Garden of Eden]], and illustrations of humans and [[dinosaur]]s coexisting.  Big Valley is a small [[village]] located about 270 miles north of [[Alberta]]. The region is a historically important dinosaur fossil collecting area, where the "great Canadian dinosaur rush" occurred in the early 1900s,<ref>[http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/Alberta/dinoasaurvalley.htm Dinosaur Valley], Travel for Kids website</ref> popular for [[school]] field trips and tourists interested in fossils; the area also includes the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology and Dinosaur Provincial Park. In 2015, one of the board members of the museum unearthed a major fossil discovery of rare fossilized fish.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-creationist-discovers-rare-fish-fossils-in-basement-dig-1.3091266 Alberta creationist discovers rare fish fossils in basement dig]. ''CBC News''. May 28, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref>

*A much more modest creation ''museum'', the [[Big Valley Creation Science Museum]],<ref>http://www.bvcsm.com/</ref> opened on June 5, 2007.<ref>[http://www.bvcsm.com/ Big Valley Creation Science Museum], museum website</ref> in Big Valley, [[Canada]].<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKN2547663920070529 Canada's first museum of creation opens in Alberta], Reuters, May 29, 2007</ref> It includes displays on "[[Fossil]]s and the [[Great Flood|Flood]]," a set of [[England|English]] scrolls tracing the family of [[King Henry VI]] back to the [[Garden of Eden]], and illustrations of humans and [[dinosaur]]s coexisting. Despite the scienctific consensus that the dinosaurs died 65 million years ago and humans appeared about 7 million years ago. ALso ironic how many fossils it have which reliable dating methods like carbon dating, disprove the ''6000 year old earth''.  Big Valley is a small [[village]] located about 270 miles north of [[Alberta]]. The region is a historically important dinosaur fossil collecting area, where the "great Canadian dinosaur rush" occurred in the early 1900s,<ref>[http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/Alberta/dinoasaurvalley.htm Dinosaur Valley], Travel for Kids website</ref> popular for [[school]] field trips and tourists interested in fossils; the area also includes the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology and Dinosaur Provincial Park. In 2015, one of the board members of the museum unearthed a major fossil discovery of rare fossilized fish.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-creationist-discovers-rare-fish-fossils-in-basement-dig-1.3091266 Alberta creationist discovers rare fish fossils in basement dig]. ''CBC News''. May 28, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref>

*The [[Institute for Creation Research]] (ICR) in Santee, [[California]] (near San Diego) has a small "Museum of Creation and Earth History" which has been operating since 1975 with an upgrade around 1992.<ref>[[John Morris|Morris, John]], [https://www.icr.org/article/3345/] ''Acts & Facts'', June 2007.</ref><ref>[[Henry Morris|Morris, Henry]], [https://www.icr.org/article/795/ ICR and The Word Of God] ''Back to Genesis'', December 1995.</ref>

*The [[Institute for Creation Research]] (ICR) in Santee, [[California]] (near San Diego) has a small "Museum of Creation and Earth History" which has been operating since 1975 with an upgrade around 1992.<ref>[[John Morris|Morris, John]], [https://www.icr.org/article/3345/] ''Acts & Facts'', June 2007.</ref><ref>[[Henry Morris|Morris, Henry]], [https://www.icr.org/article/795/ ICR and The Word Of God] ''Back to Genesis'', December 1995.</ref>

*The [[Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum]] is a relatively large creation museum in Glendive, [[Montana]].<ref>Inbody, Kristen (April 28, 2016). [http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/life/my-montana/2016/04/28/dinosaurs-bible-glendive-museum/83681042/ Dinosaurs, the Bible and a Glendive museum]. ''Great Falls Tribune''. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.creationtruth.org/ Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum]. ''Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum''. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref>

*The [[Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum]] is a relatively large creation ''museum'' in Glendive, [[Montana]].<ref>Inbody, Kristen (April 28, 2016). [http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/life/my-montana/2016/04/28/dinosaurs-bible-glendive-museum/83681042/ Dinosaurs, the Bible and a Glendive museum]. ''Great Falls Tribune''. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.creationtruth.org/ Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum]. ''Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum''. Retrieved July 8, 2017.</ref>

*ICR is currently (as of 2017) raising money to build a larger creation museum in Dallas, Texas.<ref>https://www.icr.org/discoverycenter/</ref>

*ICR is currently (as of 2017) raising money to build a larger creation museum in Dallas, Texas.<ref>https://www.icr.org/discoverycenter/</ref>