Museum of the Bible, Washington DC

Opened only one year ago, the Museum of the Bible is an excellent addition to the museums in DC. This museum is a beautiful blend of antiquities and cutting edge technology that could take several hours if you want to see everything. With six floors plus a basement, it is definitely worthwhile to use their website to research what you want to see before going. The museum itself is beautiful, and they do a great job of labeling what is in each area so that if you just want to focus on the Old Testament, or just on the New Testament, you can plan your trip accordingly. Additionally, the museum does a good job of not coming off as preachy, and more from a historical perspective, so whether you are looking for a religious or non-religious experience, this museum seems to offer something for everyone.

 In addition to the museum’s permanent collection, they also have several exhibits that are not permanent. General admission to the museum is suggested donation as their entry fee, so you can either pay the suggested $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children 12 and under, or pay what you want based on your level of comfort. The museum operates solely on the donations. You can walk up and get tickets at the museum or order your tickets online. Some of the changing exhibits require an extra ticket for timed entry, and some also carry an additional fee, while others are free, but you need the timed ticket.

During our visit, we focused on the Old Testament. Below is a breakdown of what is on each floor.

First Floor: Vatican Library and Museum, Couragous Pages (Kids area), Gift Shop, and a small bistro.

Second Floor: Impact of the Bible: Bible in America, Bible in the World, Bible Now, and Washington Revelations.

Third Floor: Stories of the Bible: The Hebrew Bible Experience (need separate tickets) (click menu, visit, attractions to get your ticket for this part), World of Jesus of Nazareth, and The New Testament Theater (need separate tickets) (click menu, visit, attractions to get your ticket for this part).

Fourth Floor: The History of the Bible: The History of the Bible Artifacts, Drive Through History of the Bible Theater, Bible Reading Room, and illumiNations.

Fifth Floor: World Stage Theater and The People of the Land: History and Archaeology of Ancient Israel.

Sixth Floor: DC Views, a restaurant, and a garden area.

Basement Level: Stations of the Cross.

Our favorite parts of this museum were the add on ticket for The Hebrew Bible experience which is a 30 minute multi-sensory experience of the Old Testament, the kids area where my kids enjoyed playing the games, and seeing the scribe who they brought in from Israel to give demonstrations on how the Old Testament is written. My children enjoyed asking him questions as he wrote the parchment scrolls which were projected on a screen behind him.

Additionally, our whole family marveled at the videos that we saw, the number of scrolls on display, and the area that showed a massive amount of bibles each one written in a different language. From the artistry to the technology, this museum was great for kids ages 7 and up.

Website: https://www.museumofthebible.org/

Hours: 10am-5pm

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