Ark Encounter and Creation Museum Review

If you are ever anywhere near Cincinnati, Ohio, don’t miss seeing the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. This past year we were visiting family in Danville, Kentucky and then going back to Louisville, Kentucky. So it was a perfect time to take a detour and see the famous Ark Encounter and Creation Museum.

Our Visit to the Creation Museum

My husband and I had been to the Creation Museum a decade ago with our oldest son during the Christmas holidays. It was neat and even had a live nativity. We spent several hours in the museum and still didn’t see everything there. This trip, this year, wasn’t any different except there was even more to see that had been added!

We ate at the little café in the middle of the museum and had some very delicious pizza! I liked eating there because even though we were inside it felt like we were in a market from Biblical times. The seating area was flanked by little shop looking building facades.

The “windows” of the buildings had artifacts or exhibits of bugs or other things like fossils.

After eating we cruised through the bug exhibit which included so many specimens! It was incredible. In the very back room of this display was a scientist looking robot. He was explaining more information about these amazing critters.

I enjoyed the museum immensely! My kids got a little bored in some parts that required reading etc. They liked all of the animatronics especially the creation story area and the mini Noah’s ark area. Although we were there for a couple hours we still missed seeing everything and still missed the planetarium. Be sure to be prepared for a lot of walking and lots of cool displays. Also remember this is the Creation Museum where all exhibits are geared towards creationism being the basis of how the Earth was formed and how you and I came to be.

The Garden

After going through the museum we decided to walked back through more of the garden on the way back to the car. It is beautifully and thought planned and maintained. I’m a gardener at heart(remember this post) and love seeing how the plantings and trees were placed throughout the area.

The Ark Encounter

Now, it was time for the Ark Encounter. This is a couple miles from the museum and when you arrive you must park and take a bus to the actual area. Luckily, we made it just in time for the last bus! It was a short ride over to the drop off and amazing to come up over a hill and see the giant boat in the distance. Even from a half mile away, it was amazing!

Have you heard about this marvel built using 3 million+ board feet by Amish craftsmen? Measurements from the Bible were used to recreate the ark and wow it was soooo cool! The interior of this ark was designed by modern day engineers considering what could have possibly been used to house thousands or animals plus feed, waste removal, and more. It was fascinating!

There were three levels to checkout with animatronics, mini-museums, an open theater, and more.

It was so overwhelming. I can now better imagine what being on the ship for weeks must have been like for Noah’s family. I also can imagine better how much work it must have been to take care of the massive amounts of animals each day. Still wishing the mosquito hadn’t snuck on board though. LOL

The short movies shown were really interesting and were kind of like mockumentaries. Noah was interviewed and local people were interviewed who made fun of him. I bet that happened over the hundreds of years it took to build the big boat during Noah’s life! The movies also included the plan of salvation as this main reason the museum and ark were built is to spread the Good News.

There is more to see and do at the Ark Encounter. There is also a zoo with different animals. This area also included a petting area with lots of goats. We spent a bunch of time here too. They were all friendly but still be careful of being nudged by a couple. LOL

Next to the zoo area is the mining water troughs where you can purchase bags of dirt and “mine” out the rocks. We got our kids a bag and they spent some time picking out the treasures. I spend a little time sitting on a bench because I was sooo worn out from all the walking!

There are also a bunch of other things at the Ark Encounter like camel rides, a café, a restaurant, a gift shop and more. Since we were the last bus of the day and went through the ark first, by the time we were out all of the extra things were closing down. Be sure to check the schedule for all the different activities before you go. We hadn’t done this because it was a spur of the moment stop for us.

Hints and Tips For Your Trip

Be ready to walk – A BUNCH! If you have little bitty kids, bring your stroller. They will get tire from all of the walking and it will be handy to have a way to carry things.

Check times for special events or general exhibits before going. Plan out your day based on your priorities.

Be sure to start as early as possible if you are seeing both the museum and ark in the same day. Better yet, take two days to see them both and make this a minivacation!

Save money with promotional coupons or days that are free on certain days like Mother’s day, Father’s day, and for veterans on certain holidays. Be sure to check the website for more information or follow the blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

Be ready to be amazed! Just the engineering and construction feat alone is incredible even if you are not a believer in Creationism. The ark was so so so cool! It is a bucket list must see type of ship!

Conclusion

There are only a handful of Creationism museums in the world. This one did not disappoint! My kids aged 6-10 at the time and my husband and I in our 40s all enjoyed it. I’m so thankful that we got to take this side trip and got to see the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. My family is also excited to go back and see all the things we missed!

Have you been to the Ark Encounter or Creation Museum? Let me know in the comments below!

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9