Coming to see a true-size Ark replica had been on our bucket lists since we first heard about it.
The Ark Encounter used an interpretation of 20.4 inches for the “cubit” in the description of the Ark in Genesis 6:14-16, which defines it as 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. This made it 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high. A good exhibit in the gift shop reviewed the cubit.
The Ark’s construction was truly impressive. It was the world’s largest freestanding timber-frame structure. Amish craftsmen played a central role in its construction. Metal brackets and bolts, which were not in the original Ark, had to be used to satisfy building codes.
The Bible only describes the Ark’s overall dimensions. Everything else in the exhibit was an estimation of what it would have looked like. Posters explained that it used artistic license to make the exhibit more interesting.
This use of artistic license made many of the exhibits inside the Ark less interesting to us. They had to fill the Ark with something! Most of it attempted to replicate the interior, from the quarters and the types of animals for two of every “kind”, to Noah’s family’s living quarters. This included some interesting ideas about how the dinosaur “kind” were on the Ark. We rushed through the inside in about 1/2 hour. Perhaps we were museumed-out after our second day in museums. We passed a guide with a group that multiplied those thirty minutes several times.
A couple of exhibits caught my eye and have led me to purchase books to explore further. The first was a poster explaining that the Grand Canyon was not created by erosion over a long period of time.
The second poster of interest was about conservation, and how both creation and conservation can be abused. This also led me to look for a book for further reading.
We did enjoy an exhibit showing Ark-related artifacts from different cultures around the world.
Other highlights included the gardens and the zoo.
The onsite restaurant, Emzara’s Buffet, provided a fine lunch. It was surprisingly good, with great selection of entries, lots of sides, and yummy deserts. The museum used its artistic license to name Noah’s wife “Emzara.”
Perhaps above all, it was refreshing to see a rainbow used in the way God first used it!
The Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 
I’ve gone by the Ark several times on my trips back and forth from OH to TN, but never stopped in, thanks for the review.
LikeLiked by 1 person