BUILDING
A HOME
FOR THE BIBLE
by Steve Embree
The Bible is the best-selling, most
translated book of all time and is
arguably history’s most significant
piece of literature. It has had an
unquestionable influence on our world
and has profoundly impacted lives
across the ages.
How does one go about creating a
museum dedicated to such a significant
book—and worthy enough to house
some of the world’s most important
manuscripts and artifacts related to
the text? A great place to start is
by establishing a team of the best
architectural, interior and environmental
designers and the brightest scholars
from the fields of archaeology and
biblical history and then issuing them a
charge to build the greatest museum in
the world.
Right in the heart of D.C.
Location, Location, Location! Several
U.S. cities were considered for
Museum of the Bible, but none made
more sense than the nation’s capital.
Washington, D.C., is in a class of its
own when it comes to high-quality
museums, and the 430,000-squarefoot building selected to house
Museum of the Bible is located right
in the heart of the city, just steps from
the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol.
Its red brick structure stands out from
the more common white sandstone
facades that blanket the city, and with
the addition of two glass-encased floors
at the top, Museum of the Bible is now
a prominent piece of the D.C. skyline.
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trip planner
Museum of the Bible