The
Creation Museum, located in
Petersburg, Kentucky, United States, is a museum that promotes a
pseudoscientific,
young Earth creationist (YEC) explanation of the
origin of the universe based on a literal interpretation of the
Genesis creation narrative in the Bible. It is operated by the Christian
creation apologetics organization
Answers in Genesis (AiG).
The 75,000-square-foot (7,000 m2) museum cost US$27 million, raised through private donations, and opened on May 28, 2007. In addition to the main collection, the facility has a special effects theater, a
planetarium, an
Allosaurus skeleton and an insect collection. As the headquarters of AiG, the museum has approximately 300 employees, and permanent employees must sign a statement of faith-affirming their belief in AiG's principles.
Reflecting young-Earth creationist beliefs, the museum depicts humans and dinosaurs coexisting, portrays the
Earth as approximately 6,000 years old, and disputes the
theory of evolution. Scientists and educators have criticized the museum for misrepresenting science and expressed concerns that it could harm science education. Proponents of other religious beliefs about the Universe's origins—including
old Earth creationism,
theistic evolution, and
intelligent design—have said that its rejection of
scientific consensus damages the credibility of Christianity and its adherents. Tenets of young-Earth creationism enjoy substantial support among the general population in the United States, however, contributing to the museum's popularity.
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The museum is controversial and has received much commentary from cultural observers and the museum community. Scholars of
museum studies, like Gretchen Jennings, have said that creationist exhibitions lack "valid connection with current worldwide thinking on their chosen discipline" and with "human knowledge and experience," and are not in their view museums at all.
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