Creation Museum

We've been looking forward to it since last spring, and we finally made it to the Creation Museum on its one year anniversary! Last year we heard the founder, Ken Ham, speak at the Homeschool Conference and we've been immersed in Answers in Genesis materials ever since. We've subscribed to the magazine, read their grown-up and kids' books, and I even taught their Sunday School lessons. So making the trip to the museum was a big deal for us! I had a good idea of what to expect, but I still think there were surprises around every corner.

Taking young kids was a great thing, and the museum was well equipped to handle families. We arrived about a half hour before opening, and while we waited in line volunteers made balloon animals for the kids and we had access to a very nice bathroom so that we were all ready to go when the doors opened.

Arriving early really paid off. We immediately started in on the guided self-tour and we were able to go through that part of the museum pretty much by ourselves. The only bad part here was that the exhibits were really loud (since we were the only people in the rooms, normally I think the sound is muffled by all the people touring). The kids hated that part. Some parts were scary to them, but there are shortcuts labelled for parents with small children.

The planetarium show was awesome! We saw a simple planetarium show in Iowa and it wasn't even in the same league as this. The show here is expensive, but definitely worth it! It was just so cool, and the creation message made it so much better than the generic or evolution message you usually get.

We went to the special effects theatre show last. It was a great finale! If you get to go, make sure your kids all have their own seat if they're two or three or older. We laughed so hard during this show!

I think our visit was extra good because we had good weather, too. There is so much to do outside! The museum is right beside a beautifully landscaped lake that has lots of cool bridges, and that was another good surprise! There is a small playground for kids, and they even had a little bouncy house. We did the petting zoo too, but our kids didn't really get into that. The trail and lake is just so beautifully landscaped, and there are several cool sculptures that are really fun to check out.

We spent 6 hours at the museum and we went through really fast. We didn't look at or read any displays in depth. Since we've been reading so much Answers in Genesis media we didn't feel like we missed out too bad, but I also know we will be going back all throughout our children's childhood. Every time we go we'll be able to get more in depth, so there's lots to look forward to!

If you want to plan a cool day trip or school field trip, this is the best thing I could imagine. I felt more excited than I feel about going to amusement parks, and there was so much to do. I just can't emphasize enough that this should be a place we all visit as much as possible!

This is the main foyer after you enter and buy your ticket. The displays are so beautiful and big! There are big dinosaurs everywhere and they all move and make noise.

The first few rooms of the tour start with the inerancy of the Bible and Bible history. There are tributes the writers of the Old and New Testament. Cora and Wesley are standing in front of Isaiah, Moses, and King David.

Wesley and I are beside Peter and John (I think) checking in on the empty tomb. We're blocking your view of Paul.

Here is Martin Luther. There was also a display of a printing press and some other church history displays.

Now it's transition time. If you'll look at the timely closely, you'll notice that it's backwards and going downhill. This is where Cora started to get scared.

After the church history went downhill, we walked through a dark, dirty alley portraying our culture today.

The compromising of scripture is to blame.

Every window you look into in this house has a drama of our sad culture.

Now we begin the Seven C's of history part of the tour. Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ and the Cross. Consummation, it is the last C, and that sums up all of our history! (Sorry, that's the catchy line from one of our Sunday School songs!)This is Adam naming the animals.

Adam meets Eve! Look at that nasty serpent.
And the Fall. Corruption. Dinosaurs are no longer friends.
Catastrophe! This was sort of a cross section of the Ark. The next display was the Tower of Babel, or Confusion, and the beginning of all the nations. The last three C's, Christ, the Cross and Consummation were summed up in the movie The Last Adam. And Consummation hasn't happened yet, either, so there's not much on that C.
The Dinosaur Den! Very cool, but too loud for our sensitive children who aren't even used to having the tv on. Do you see Wesley covering his ears?

We had lunch in Noah's Cafe, which was very cool, and not very expensive.

This is my favorite bridge. It's just hanging, it's really long, and it's really wobbly! Cora did great, only fell down once!

Cora wanted to have her picture taken by this stream. The kids were fascinated by the lovely landscaping. There's little streams and waterfalls like this all along the trail.

They loved getting their arms painted by a volunteer!

It was actually a little hot out, so when we came back inside we were ready for some ice cream in the Palm Cafe.
Here we are, completely worn out, riding a little triceratops.