Stunning New Arks from Around the World Exhibit Opens at the Ark Encounter

by Ken Ham on December 15, 2023
Featured in Ken Ham Blog

I am continually blown away by the phenomenal quality our exhibit design and fabrication teams put into each exhibit they produce. And the stunning new exhibit that opened this week on the third deck of the Ark Encounter is no exception!

Before I show you the new exhibit, I’ll share a few behind-the-scenes pictures of its two cases as they were being installed. It’s quite a process to carefully install such an exhibit.

  • Exhibit case being unloaded from truck
  • Exhibit case put on a cart
  • Exhibit case being wheeled up the Ark ramp
  • Exhibit case entering the ark
  • Exhbit case on deck of Ark
  • Exhbit case being installed
  • Exhbit case being installed
  • Exhbit case being installed
Much like the many legends from around the world discussed in Flood Legends, depictions of Noah’s ark from around the globe suggest a widespread knowledge of the flood event.

This new exhibit is titled Arks from Around the World and can now be found just outside the Flood Legends exhibit. This is the perfect place for this new exhibit as the two are tied together. Much like the many legends from around the world discussed in Flood Legends, depictions of Noah’s ark from around the globe suggest a widespread knowledge of the flood event.

Now, those legends are ancient, but many of the models displayed in the exhibit are modern constructions. Why do countries around the world create and sell model Noah’s arks? Well, because the world is familiar with the biblical account of the flood. That’s why people from all over the globe come to visit the Ark Encounter and why interest in finding the remnants of the ark remains even today—for example the secular publication National Geographic recently ran a feature article on the search for Noah’s ark (not that they believe it really existed as the Bible describes!).

You’ll notice in the photos below that many of these arks are not accurate representations of the ship described in Genesis (these are what I call “bathtub arks”), but guests have already learned about some of the potential dangers of depicting the ark this way in our Fairytale Ark exhibit on deck two. Signage at this new exhibit also highlights the difference between stylized representations and the biblical description of the ark. We offer this beautiful collection of arks as a testimony to the world’s long-held belief in this historical event.

Enjoy these photos of the exhibit which features over 70 arks from over 40 countries, all of which were generously donated by a local supporter who has collected them in his travels around the world.

  • Arks from Around the World exhibit
  • Arks from Around the World exhibit
  • Arks from Around the World exhibit
  • Arks from Around the World exhibit
  • Arks from Around the World exhibit
  • Arks from Around the World exhibit
  • Arks from Around the World exhibit
  • Arks from Around the World exhibit
  • Arks from Around the World exhibit

Now, you’ll notice that it’s not just the arks in this exhibit that are eye-catching—the display cases themselves are spectacular. Project designer Felicia Goebel led the way in designing these beautiful displays, and our talented technical design and fabrication teams constructed the exquisite cases. They even figured out how to bend multiple long sheets of blue acrylic to create the striking wave pattern separating the arks (and, yes, that’s as much work as it sounds—you can learn more about how this exhibit was designed and built in an upcoming episode of Behind the Experience, coming to our streaming platform, Answers TV).

Be sure to come and visit the Ark Encounter to enjoy this stunning new exhibit. And did you know that this is just one of the many projects currently underway at our attractions? Construction continues on the Ark’s Welcome Center, which will also house our fascinating first-century Jerusalem model. Teams are hard at work here at the Creation Museum as well, as they upgrade our Eden Zoo (with beautiful new buildings and new animals) and finish constructing a 12,500 sq. ft. glass conservatory that will house the plants of the Bible (this will be the only such conservatory housing a permanent exhibit in the state of Kentucky!). Please note that, due to the exciting upgrades at the Eden Zoo, it will be temporarily closing beginning January 3, 2024.

New Exhibit Coming to the Creation Museum

This powerful exhibit will answer the questions facing a new generation regarding identity, gender, self, and more.

And there’s more—a biblical identity exhibit to be installed at the Creation Museum (in what is now Discovery Hall) is still in the initial design phase. This powerful exhibit will answer the questions facing a new generation regarding identity, gender, self, and more. Guests will see how God, the designer of humanity, has the answer to these questions and can bring purpose and redemption to every aspect of who they are through the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, which restores us from our fallen, sinful condition and transforms us into the image of Jesus himself. What a necessary message for today’s generations!

  • Concept Art for Biblical Identity Exhibit
  • Concept Art for Biblical Identity Exhibit

Yes, there are so many exciting projects underway at the Ark Encounter, Creation Museum, and Answers in Genesis. And you can help bring the biblical identity exhibit and much more to life by giving toward our end-of-year campaign. We’re seeking to raise $16 million, and thanks to a generous family foundation, all gifts through the end of the year are doubled up to $8 million! Please join with us in bringing these projects to life by praying and considering an end-of-year gift.

Whew—it is exciting around here! We’re so thankful for all the Lord has done and continues to do through this ministry.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.

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