Visitors enjoying the Garden of Eden exhibit complete with dinosaurs.

Crowds began lining up more than an hour before the doors opened, with nearly 500 people in line by 10 a.m. At least 32 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces were represented by that time. By day’s end, more than 4,000 individuals had toured the museum.

As had been threatened, two groups of protestors combined for a “Rally for Reason” outside the front gates of the museum, with about 50 participants present. The protest remained peaceful, with local church groups offering water and snacks to the protestors.

An ABC News poll released last week revealed that 60 percent of Americans essentially believe in the creation account. “At the museum, we want people to understand the problems with the theory of evolution, and see how science actually supports what the Bible teaches about the origins of the universe, the global flood, and ultimately why Christ came to earth 2,000 years ago,” said Mark Looy, co-founder and chief communications officer of AiG.

The high-tech, 60,000 square-foot facility includes 55 animatronic and static figures (dinosaurs and humans), a 200-seat special-effects theater, and a 30-foot-tall depiction of a section of Noah's Ark. The museum features exhibits created by the man known for designing the “Jaws” and “King Kong” attractions at Universal Studios in Florida. Visitors can also see real dinosaur eggs and dinosaur bones, and enjoy a state-of-the-art 78-seat planetarium.

“Just as Dayton, Tennessee, was ground zero for the defense of evolution in 1925, so Petersburg, Kentucky, will become ground zero for the defense of creation in 2007,” said Ken Ham.

“The purpose of the museum is to use observational science to show that the Bible is true, its history is true and therefore the Gospel is true,” Ham continued. “There are a lot of Ph.D. scientists who believe what the Bible teaches. Both creationists and evolutionists use the same science, and the same evidence – the difference is our pre-existing beliefs [about origins]."

With a strong international media turn-out to cover both the museum’s opening and related events, Ham conducted numerous interviews throughout the day including BBC-TV and Swiss television, returning to the theme of the museum’s place in Christendom and the defense of the Christian faith.

“The buzz is out there globally about this place,” Ham noted. “It is incredible that something that is Christian and built on the authority of God’s Word would get such international media attention. But, you haven’t seen anything yet – this museum will be a rallying point for Christians around the world.”

“The Creation Museum is a walk through the Bible using science, geology, biology, astronomy and anthropology to confirm the accuracy of biblical history,” said Ham.

“Christians are tired of being beaten down and marginalized in this country. Many are telling us it’s about time we had a place where Christians can stand up and say the Bible is true; its history is true; we can defend it; we have the answers; and we can proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s what this museum is all about.”

Ham went on to address the relevance of the creation/evolution topic. “During the first Republican presidential candidate debate, three candidates indicated they don’t believe in evolution,” Ham added. “The mere fact it was asked demonstrates that creation/evolution is a foundational, hot button issue.”

“Much of the (museum) experience features displays that would be similar to what you would find in a natural history museum, so you will see exhibits on par with some of the fine science museums around the world,” said Mark Looy.

“Because we’re taking our visitors on a walk through history from Genesis to Revelation, it is a biblical museum combining Scripture with the best of what science can present.”

Those touring the museum seemed to share the ministry leaders’ excitement. Motivational speaker and author Zig Ziglar, a museum guest on opening day, commented, “The Creation Museum is spectacular! I’ve been a Christian for many years, but this museum has strengthened my faith. Visitors won’t leave untouched after touring this museum.”

Some of the festivities included family activities throughout opening day, including concerts by singer Buddy Davis and guitarist Ray Cummins; face painting and a dragon slide for the kids; hot air balloon rides; and a grand opening fireworks celebration to cap off the day.

“We wanted to make this a special occasion for our guests, a time when families could really come out and enjoy themselves for the whole day – tour the museum, take in the gardens, have a picnic and relax together as a family,” Looy said. “I believe we’ve achieved that, and we look forward to continuing to serve the region in this way in the days ahead.”

The Creation Museum, located at 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road in Petersburg, Kentucky (west of the Cincinnati Airport), opened to the general public on Monday – Memorial Day. It will remain open seven days a week through the summer, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. It will be closed Sundays after Labor Day. More information may be found at www.creationmuseum.org  or by calling (888) 582-4253.

Answers in Genesis is a biblical apologetics ministry which conducts more than 300 teaching meetings each year, hosts an award-winning Web site and produces the “Answers” radio program heard on more than 860 stations throughout the United States.

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More information is available in the online newsroom:
www.CreationMuseumNews.com  

** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Lake Forest, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.