Visit to the Creation Museum

In May, 2007, the organization Answers in Genesis, opened a Creation Museum in northern Kentucky, approximately 12 km west of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport.  The museum endeavors to “bring the pages of the Bible to life”, presenting a Young-Earth Creationist vision of the history of life, designed by a former exhibit director for Universal Studios.  The museum has garnered significant national and international attention since its opening and has significantly exceeded its stated expectations for attendance.

Given the importance of the Creationism versus Evolution debate in the public arena, the Organizing Committee concluded that an opportunity should be provided for NAPC participants to visit the Museum.  In particular, the committee believed that it was essential for professional paleontologists to become better aware of how their work and their roles in society are portrayed by creationists, themes that are conveyed vividly at the museum.  Furthermore, the committee believed that the visit would provide a valuable backdrop for presentations and discussions that took place at the meeting on Thursday, during the morning plenary session on Evolution and Society and the afternoon symposia on Paleontology in K-12 Education and The Nature of Science and Public Science Literacy.  

The trip took place on Wednesday, June 24.  A group of nearly 80 participants departed the University of Cincinnati campus at 9:30 am and arrived at the Creation Museum shortly after its opening time of 10:00 am.  The group toured the museum until mid-afternoon, taking a break for lunch outdoors at 12:30 pm.  

Link to article about the visit in The New York Times  

Link to Associated Press article about the visit (MSNBC website)

Link to Agence France-Presse article about the visit (Google website)

NAPC 2009 participants react to the Creation Museum tour