Two Kentucky-based tourist attractions that bring biblical events to life have been voted the best religious museums in America according to this year’s USA Today “10 Best” survey of readers.
The Ark Encounter, based in Williamstown, Ky., and the Creation Museum, located in nearby Petersburg, Ky., are numbers one and two, respectively, in USA Today’s 10 Best poll for Best Religious Museum for 2023. Readers vote on the annual survey.
Both tourist sites are operated by Answers in Genesis and are located about 30 miles from Cincinnati, Ohio. The Ark Encounter is a life-size replica of Noah’s Ark with exhibits and a zoo. The Creation Museum is a 75,000-square-foot facility that explores the stories of Genesis, including the creation account.
Coming in at number three in the survey is the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.
“I'm thrilled that more and more families have been discovering and enjoying our wholesome, God-honoring attractions in our constantly changing culture,” said Ken Ham, CEO and founder of the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum. “The voting confirms that our area is America's leading faith-based destination. I’m very grateful that our international attractions have been recognized like this.”
Other attractions ranked in the survey are the Biblical History Center in LaGrange, Georgia (No. 4), the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina (No. 5), the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (No. 6), the Cincinnati Skirball Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio (No. 7), the Loyola University Museum of Art in Chicago, Illinois (No. 8), the Wycliffe Discovery Center in Orlando, Florida (No. 9) and the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C. (No. 10).
The Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum also finished Nos. one and two in the 2020 survey, the last time USA Today conducted its 10 Best poll. (It was paused during the pandemic.)
“You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the stories and collections at these 10 museums voted as the best by readers,” USA Today said. “Each is dedicated to sharing the beliefs, history, culture, art or traditions of religious groups and faith communities.”
Photo courtesy: ©Answers in Genesis, Ark Encounter, used with permission.
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
