Creation Museum still a hit after one year
Pastor Dale Morgan
Creation Museum still a hit after one year*
BY PAUL MCKIBBEN
PETERSBURG - Instead of going directly to a family gathering in
Illinois, Larry and Shirley Lawrence of Hattiesburg, Miss., stopped by
the Creation Museum in Petersburg.
Larry Lawrence said he wanted to visit the museum because you see so
much in the media and so much has been written proving evolution.
"It was just real interesting to me to see something that gives the
opposing viewpoint," he said.
The Lawrences are among thousands of visitors that have trekked their
way to the controversial museum since it officially opened on Memorial
Day last year. A year after that opening, the museum continues to draw
thousands of visitors.
The museum depicts creationists' literal interpretation of the Bible's
Book of Genesis on how the Earth and mankind were created. Answers in
Genesis, a Christian organization, operates the museum that was years in
the making.
The Lawrences had gone through part of the museum and Shirley said the
museum was "right on target with the Bible."
The museum is approaching its 400,000th visitor, exceeding expectations.
Mark Looy, one of the museum's co-founders, said the past year has been
"extraordinary in a number of ways" with such factors as the attendance
and worldwide media attention. He said the museum believes attendance
will remain strong this summer because tour-group bookings are much
higher than last year.
"We are somewhat optimistic that for our second year, we'll have over
300,000 visitors come here," he said.
Among the first-year visitors on a recent Wednesday afternoon besides
the Lawrences, was Sabrina Seitz of Spokane, Wash., who brought along
her 15-year-old son Dylan, a home school student. Seitz said she was
going to a conference too and they flew to Columbus, Ohio, and then
drove down.
"I think creation has a lot more answers than evolution ever thought
of," she said.
Financially, Looy said the museum is doing more than breaking even.
New things are happening too. The museum is adding another restaurant.
The Boone County Fiscal Court on Jan. 22 approved plans that include
more parking and a new entrance. Looy said the museum is thinking about
adding an auditorium on site.
And then there's the suggestion of the museum building a Noah's Ark.
(There's an ark inside the museum). Looy said "people contact us all the
time saying you should build a Noah's Ark" but there's nothing on the
drawing boards.
To mark its one-year anniversary, the museum will have a Creation
Celebration Friday, May 23, through Sunday, June 1. The museum will
debut a musical called "Let the Rain Come," about Noah and his ark on
Friday, May 23. There's also a fireworks display that evening and the
museum that day will open a permanent petting zoo.