Changes

'''Kenneth Alfred (Ken) Ham''' (born 1951 in Australia ) is a self-described Biblical apologist emphasizing [[Young Earth Creationism]] and the reliability of Scripture in all matters of which it speaks, including science.  He is founder and president of [[Answers in Genesis]], an apologist organization founded in 1994 in the United States with the purpose of upholding the authority of the Bible from the very first verse.<ref>answersingenesis.org</ref>

'''Kenneth Alfred (Ken) Ham''' (born 1951 in Australia ) is a self-described Biblical apologist emphasizing [[Young Earth Creationism]] and the reliability of Scripture in all matters of which it speaks, including science.  He is founder and president of [[Answers in Genesis]], an apologist organization founded in 1994 in the United States with the purpose of upholding the authority of the Bible from the very first verse.<ref>answersingenesis.org</ref>

Ham also speaks on a daily radio feature, "Answers with Ken Ham," and is a prolific public speaker and author and the brains behind the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter in Cincinnati, OH.  He also founded "Answers" magazine, which won the prestigious "Award of Excellence" for top Christian magazine in 2011 from the Evangelical Press Association.<ref>answersingenesis.org</ref>

Ham also speaks on a daily radio feature, "Answers with Ken Ham," and is a prolific public speaker and author and the brains behind the [[Creation Museum]] and the [[Ark Encounter]] in Cincinnati, OH.  He also founded "Answers" magazine, which won the prestigious "Award of Excellence" for top Christian magazine in 2011 from the Evangelical Press Association.<ref>answersingenesis.org</ref>

==Early Life and Education==

==Early Life and Education==

In his last year of his university training to become a public school science teacher, Ham was strongly influenced by ''The Genesis Flood,'' a book co-authored by Dr. [[Henry Morris]], a hydraulic engineer, and Dr. John Whitcomb, a theologian, showing how scientific evidence supported the Great Flood as described in the Bible.<ref>Appeal letter from Ham for Answers in Genesis, Nov. 20, 2015</ref>

In his last year of his university training to become a public school science teacher, Ham was strongly influenced by ''The Genesis Flood,'' a book co-authored by Dr. [[Henry Morris]], a hydraulic engineer, and Dr. John Whitcomb, a theologian, showing how scientific evidence supported the Great Flood as described in the Bible.<ref>Appeal letter from Ham for Answers in Genesis, Nov. 20, 2015</ref>

After moving to America in 1987, Ham worked for seven years under Dr. Henry Morris at the [[Institute for Creation Research]].<ref>Appeal letter from Ham for Answers in Genesis, Nov. 20, 2015</ref>  He began the Answers in Genesis ministry in late 1993 along with Mark Looy and Paul Palmon.  The Creation Museum broke ground in 2000 and opened in 2007.  The Ark Encounter, featuring a full-size Noah's Ark according to Biblical dimensions, opened on July 7, 2016.<ref>Appeal letter from Ham for Answers in Genesis, Nov. 20, 2015</ref>

After moving to America in 1987, Ham worked for seven years under Dr. Henry Morris at the [[Institute for Creation Research]].<ref>Appeal letter from Ham for Answers in Genesis, Nov. 20, 2015</ref>  He began the Answers in Genesis ministry in late 1993 along with Mark Looy and Paul Palmon.  The [[Creation Museum]] broke ground in 2000 and opened in 2007.  The [[Ark Encounter]], featuring a full-size Noah's Ark according to Biblical dimensions, opened on July 7, 2016.<ref>Appeal letter from Ham for Answers in Genesis, Nov. 20, 2015</ref>

==Publications==

==Publications==

==Creation Museum==

==Creation Museum==

According to AiG, Ken Ham had a vision for "a creation museum that teaches the truth" since 1979, when he began his ministry in Creation Science.<ref name="History">[https://answersingenesis.org/about/history/ History]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> During the mid-1990's, after AiG was founded, the ministry began searching for land in Northern Kentucky to build the museum.<ref name="History"/> The Museum was opened on May 28, 2007<ref name="History"/> at the cost of $27 million.<ref name="Rothstein">Rothstein, Edward (May 24, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/arts/24crea.html?_r=0 Adam and Eve in the Land of the Dinosaurs]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 10, 2016.</ref> $21 million of the cost was raised through private donations.<ref>Lovan, Dylan (July 31, 2006). [http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14122311/ High Tech Museum Brings Creationism to Life]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved August 10, 2016.</ref>

According to AiG, Ken Ham had a vision for "a creation museum that teaches the truth" since 1979, when he began his ministry in [[Creation Science]].<ref name="History">[https://answersingenesis.org/about/history/ History]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> During the mid-1990's, after AiG was founded, the ministry began searching for land in Northern Kentucky to build the museum.<ref name="History"/> The Museum was opened on May 28, 2007<ref name="History"/> at the cost of $27 million.<ref name="Rothstein">Rothstein, Edward (May 24, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/arts/24crea.html?_r=0 Adam and Eve in the Land of the Dinosaurs]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 10, 2016.</ref> $21 million of the cost was raised through private donations.<ref>Lovan, Dylan (July 31, 2006). [http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14122311/ High Tech Museum Brings Creationism to Life]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved August 10, 2016.</ref>

It was estimated that 250,000 people would visit the museum in the first year.<ref name="Rothstein"/> However, the 250,000th visitor visited the museum in early November, nearly seven months ahead of schedule.<ref name="History"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Creation Museum hits 250K visitors |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=November 3, 2007 |url=http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20071103/NEWS0103/711030409/ |accessdate=July 22, 2013}}</ref>

It was estimated that 250,000 people would visit the museum in the first year.<ref name="Rothstein"/> However, the 250,000th visitor visited the museum in early November, nearly seven months ahead of schedule.<ref name="History"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Creation Museum hits 250K visitors |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=November 3, 2007 |url=http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20071103/NEWS0103/711030409/ |accessdate=July 22, 2013}}</ref>

==Ark Encounter==

==Ark Encounter==

On July 7, 2016, the Ark Encounter, a life-sized replica of Noah's Ark, was opened to the public in Williamstown, Kentucky.<ref>Ham, Ken. [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/07/07/ark-encounter-opens-to-the-public/ Ark Encounter Opens to the Public!] ''Answers in Genesis''. July 7, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> The ark cost $100 million dollars and is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, based off of the dementions given in the Bible.<ref>Weed, Alexis (July 8, 2016). [http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/07/us/noahs-ark-kentucky/ Noah's Ark Opens at Kentucky Theme Park]. ''CNN''. Retreived August 5, 2016.</ref> The opening date, 7/7, was intentionally chosen to coincide with Genesis 7:7. The next day, Bill Nye visited the Ark Encounter upon invitation from Ham.<ref>Ham, Ken. [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/07/08/bill-nye-visits-ark-encounter/ Bill Nye Visits the Ark Encounter]. ''Answers in Genesis''. July 8, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

On July 7, 2016, the [[Ark Encounter]], a life-sized replica of Noah's Ark, was opened to the public in Williamstown, Kentucky.<ref>Ham, Ken. [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/07/07/ark-encounter-opens-to-the-public/ Ark Encounter Opens to the Public!] ''Answers in Genesis''. July 7, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> The ark cost $100 million dollars and is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, based off of the dementions given in the Bible.<ref>Weed, Alexis (July 8, 2016). [http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/07/us/noahs-ark-kentucky/ Noah's Ark Opens at Kentucky Theme Park]. ''CNN''. Retreived August 5, 2016.</ref> The opening date, 7/7, was intentionally chosen to coincide with Genesis 7:7. The next day, Bill Nye visited the Ark Encounter upon invitation from Ham.<ref>Ham, Ken. [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/07/08/bill-nye-visits-ark-encounter/ Bill Nye Visits the Ark Encounter]. ''Answers in Genesis''. July 8, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

Before the opening, AiG sued the state of Kentucky after officials blocked AiG from receiving a sales tax tourism incentive worth up to $18 million because AiG would use the Ark Encounter to share the gospel. On January 25, 2016, Federal Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled in AiG's favor, ruling that blocking the incentives from AiG was unconstitutional and violated their [[First Amendment]] protections.<ref>Lovan, Dylan (January 25, 2016). [http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/grant-county/ark-encounter-builder-wins-legal-battle-over-tax-incentives Ark Encounter builder wins legal battle over tax incentive]. ''WCPO.com'' Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref><ref>Caproni, Erin (January 26, 2016). [http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2016/01/judge-rules-on-ark-encounter-incentives.html Judge rules on Ark Encounter incentives]. ''Cincinatti Business Courier''. Retrieved August 5 2016.</ref><ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/religious-freedom/victory-ark-encounter-federal-court/ Victory for AiG/Ark Encounter in Federal Court]. ''Answers in Genesis''. January 25, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

Before the opening, AiG sued the state of Kentucky after officials blocked AiG from receiving a sales tax tourism incentive worth up to $18 million because AiG would use the Ark Encounter to share the gospel. On January 25, 2016, Federal Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled in AiG's favor, ruling that blocking the incentives from AiG was unconstitutional and violated their [[First Amendment]] protections.<ref>Lovan, Dylan (January 25, 2016). [http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/grant-county/ark-encounter-builder-wins-legal-battle-over-tax-incentives Ark Encounter builder wins legal battle over tax incentive]. ''WCPO.com'' Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref><ref>Caproni, Erin (January 26, 2016). [http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2016/01/judge-rules-on-ark-encounter-incentives.html Judge rules on Ark Encounter incentives]. ''Cincinatti Business Courier''. Retrieved August 5 2016.</ref><ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/religious-freedom/victory-ark-encounter-federal-court/ Victory for AiG/Ark Encounter in Federal Court]. ''Answers in Genesis''. January 25, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>