The Museum of the Bible is one of the newest museums in Washington D.C. It opened in 2017 and was built by the founder of Hobby Lobby. During our first visit to Washington D.C, the museum was still under construction. So this visit was high on our list of must-sees.
I wouldn’t categorize the museum as being overly religious or preachy, it mainly focuses on the creation, history, and impact of the Bible. You can also walk through some of the stories of the Bible. We found the World of Jesus of Nazareth to be fascinating. The kids loved exploring this area. It felt like you were really there.
Courageous Pages
Another area that our family enjoyed was the Courageous Pages Children’s Area. This fun area is tucked into a corner on the main floor. If it hadn’t been for a nice museum worker we would have missed it entirely. We are so glad he pointed it out. The kids had a blast! There are lots of interactive games and features, all teaching children about the stories of the Bible. Children could fish, walk on water, throw stones at Goliath, have the strength of Samson, and much more. In the eyes of our kids, this room was one of the best in the museum.
Virtual Reality
Another family favorite was the Virtual Reality Tour of the Holy Lands. This is also on the main floor and requires a ticket. It was $9.95 for about a 10-minute experience. It was well worth it for us. The kids loved it!
Washington Revelations
Also, requiring a ticket is Washington Revelations on the second floor. This was $4.95 for a 6-minute multi-sensory experience. Washington Revelations felt like a Disney World ride. You stand against a platform and are flown around DC. As you fly you can feel the wind in your hair and even get splashed at one point. Our family loved this experience!
Videos
The Museum of the Bible has 6 floors of exhibits and galleries. Need to rest? You can sit and watch a short video. Our family really enjoyed the Drive Thru History presentation. If you are a homeschooler, you are probably familiar with this video series. The host drives all over teaching history. There is also a short video in the World of Jesus of Nazareth depicting the end of John the Baptist’s life. It was a little intense for our 6-year-old, but the older kids enjoyed it.
There were large portions of the museum that our kids just weren’t too interested in. They would hop from one interactive display to another while the adults skimmed as much as possible. There is a lot of reading and walking. Kids under 6 will probably get very antsy.
The museum often has temporary exhibits so check out their website to see if it’s something that interests your family. During our visit, they had an exhibit on the preacher Billy Graham. It was small, but very well done.
View
On floor 6 you can view the skyline of Washington D.C. It wasn’t as impressive as I hoped, but still nice. On this floor, you will also find the Manna Restaurant featuring the flavors of the Mediterranean.
Specifics
The Museum of the Bible is located 2 blocks south of the National Mall and is between 2 Metro stations, Federal Center and L’Enfant. Both only require a short walk. I do not suggest driving into D.C.
The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Admission is free, but they highly suggest you make a donation. During our November 2018 visit, if you paid $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children 12 and under you get an All-Access Pass to the attractions, tours, and exhibits. This included virtual reality and Washington Revelations. We felt the price was well worth it.
There are 2 places to eat inside, but we felt it was a little too pricey. Manna is on the top floor and Milk + Honey Cafe is on the bottom floor (basement level). Outside the museum, you will find multiple places to eat. We really liked Potbelly Sandwich Shop. It is in the same building as the museum but on the opposite (back) side.
Final Thoughts
The Museum of the Bible is a great museum. Make sure you have ample time to fully enjoy the entire museum. We spent close to 4 hours exploring and didn’t even read everything. Kids under 6 will get bored easily. Make frequent visits to the Courageous Pages for their sake. Don’t miss the videos! Take your time and enjoy.
Have you visited the Museum of the Bible? Leave me your thoughts in the comments.
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I did not receive compensation.
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