Media coverage from the world’s major newspapers and TV networks has also helped raise interest, Ham said. On one recent day alone, Ham confirmed that 11 media calls or e-mails were received at the AiG offices. These included: a New York Times reporter, an award-winning HBO documentary producer, a correspondent with one of Brazil’s largest newspapers and representatives from eight other media outlets. On Friday, a CNN crew spent the entire afternoon filming at the museum.
In addition, over the past 18 months, four different crews from the BBC have visited the construction site. International journalists also have been regularly filming and photographing the facility for advance feature stories over the last several months – a sign, ministry officials believe, of the intense interest the museum story has among worldwide media.
Because of the large media interest and the support of so many donors, the museum is now adding approximately 2,000 square feet of exhibit space to the inside of the museum complex. Some of the space involves the creation of two-story displays that take advantage of 40-foot-high ceilings, including a re-creation of a portion of Noah’s Ark and an enlarged dinosaur exhibit. Another 7,000 square feet is being re-worked at the front of the building, creating a striking glass-enclosed portico as the new entryway for guests. The museum’s café has also expanded to accommodate additional visitors. Outside the complex, an additional 85 parking spots are being added.
As a result, the expansion has meant that the construction price tag of $25 million has increased to $27 million for the museum. Organizers hope the facility – located within a day’s drive of 60 percent of the U.S. population – will attract at least 250,000 visitors during its first year of operations.
As part of the museum experience, visitors will see real dinosaur bones, a number of dinosaur eggs including a clutch of eggs, and other exceptional fossils. They can also view a huge casting of a mastodon, examine a superb mineral collection, take a tour of the universe inside a state-of-the-art 78-seat planetarium, and enjoy exhibits created by a designer known for his work at Universal Studios and other theme parks.
"We are tremendously encouraged to see how God has blessed and grown this museum," Ham said. "The quality of the exhibits is on par with what you see at the best science museums anywhere in the world. I was in Orlando recently, and I would say that some of our dinosaur animatronics are as good as what you’d find at the Disney parks there."
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry (i.e., confirming the validity of the Bible) headquartered in a new facility adjacent to the museum. The organization conducts more than 300 teaching meetings each year, hosts an award-winning Web site (with up to 30,000 visitors per day), and produces the “Answers” radio program heard on more than 860 stations throughout the United States.
© 2007 ASSIST News Service, used with permission
