The Museum of the Bible: Explore Christian History on your next Student tour of D.C.

Located near the National Mall, the Museum of the Bible offers a special educational experience away from the commotion of busier museums, like the Smithsonian.

When our Christian and Catholic school tour groups travel to Washington, D.C., students and instructors often feel moved after visiting this hidden gem, which guides visitors through the life of the most important book in the world. Owned by an Evangelical family, the museum is designed to be shared with people of all faith backgrounds, and makes a powerful addition to any student's journey through D.C. Walking through the museum, visitors explore the profound impact of the Bible throughout history, culture, and daily life across the globe. 

The Stories of the Bible

One of the museum’s most impressive features is an immersive walkthrough of the Hebrew Bible, where student’s journey through Old Testament stories including Noah’s Ark, the Burning Bush, Passover, and more. This award-winning walkthrough brings all of these iconic stories to life with dramatic lighting and narration.

Another standout feature is an immersive exhibit that takes visitors back in time to first-century Nazareth with authentic structures. As they touch the stone walls and walk dirt paths dotted with olive trees, it’s easy for visitors to imagine what life was like for a humble village-goer during Jesus’s time. Actors in period costumes enhance the experience as they explain what daily culture was like in a Galilean Village. Through these unique interactive exhibits, students can live the Bible in a real, tangible way, which allows them to see these familiar stories through a whole new lens. 

People and Artifacts

Home to over 600 biblical artifacts, the Bible Museum takes visitors on a walk through 2,000 years of history- from early manuscripts to modern Bible translations. Floor five of the museum details the life of Canaanites, Egyptians, and ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah. These diverse communities reveal how rulers, translators, and leaders interpreted scripture in different ways to shape their societies.

The museum is the proud home of the Green Collection, one of the largest privately-owned Bible collections in the entire world. For many visitors, it is a profound experience to see the variety of different interpretations, each one exemplifying the Bible’s cultural impact across the globe. A Pilgrims bible demonstrates the presence of religion early-on in our country’s independence, while translations from Martin Luther King Jr. show how Biblical values have been applied in moments of social justice, like the Civil Rights Movement. Visitors to the museum can even see fragments of Dead Sea Scrolls that connect us to ancient texts studied in class. 

The Bible’s Global and Cultural Impact

The museum emphasizes that the Bible is not just a history book- it’s a living influence in our society. Live feeds at the museum display breaking news about the bible, and even include statistics on digital Bible readership across the globe. 

Looking up, visitors will see a massive LED screen that enhances the space, changing every few minutes to display vibrant imagery. Below their feet, the floors are inscribed with Bible verses in Hebrew and Greek. 

As the most famous book in the world, inspirations from the Bible are sprinkled all throughout our daily life in places where we may not know it. The museum offers an aerial flight simulation which takes travelers all throughout DC, stopping at locations where the Bible’s influence and be seen and felt.

Explore Christian History on Your Next Student Tour OF D.C.!

The Bible is woven into the fabric of our culture. It was a guiding force behind our national language, and it’s impact continues to thrive in film, music, literature, fashion, and government. 

Whether it’s a Christian student looking to deepen their faith or a World History student eager to understand global culture, a tour of the Museum of the Bible offers a new and exciting experience for students in D.C.!