CBN News toured the site of the future Museum of the Bible in the nation's capital, 18 months before its scheduled opening.
Once completed, the 430,000 square foot structure will showcase more than 40,000 items related to the world's best-selling and most widely read book.
On any given day, the site is crawling with around 300 to 350 construction workers and contractors who are currently busy working on the facade and building interior.
The museum's home is the same space where Washington's first refrigerated warehouse was built to preserve food in the 1920s. Nearly a hundred years later, museum workers note, the very same space will be used to preserve the Word of God.
According to its website, the Bible museum's exhibits will include tablets dating back to the time of Abraham, fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls, and rare printed Bibles.
While the subject matter may focus on ancient themes, the guest experience will be modern, with what's described as "cutting-edge technology to bring the Bible to life."
"Our idea and our desire is to tell the Bible story in such an engaging way that people will want to spend hours in the museum," museum founder Steve Green told CBN News in a prior interview.
Green's family, which runs the mega-business Hobby Lobby, also owns one of the largest collection of Bible artifacts in the world. Most will find a home in the new museum.
"When we think of the word 'museum,' sometimes you think of old and dusty," Green said. "But what we will be doing is making this technologically advanced, where that it is very engaging and interactive, where that somebody could have a customized tour if they wanted to."
Funding for the project is all through private donations, from both big and small donors.
The museum just launched its One Million Names campaign, soliciting donations from people at any amount great or small. The first million will have their names displayed in the museum.
The Museum of the Bible is scheduled to open in November of 2017 near the National Mall.
Did you know?
God is everywhere—even in the news. That’s why we view every news story through the lens of faith. We are committed to delivering quality independent Christian journalism you can trust. But it takes a lot of hard work, time, and money to do what we do. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1.
Support CBN News