Creation Museum: An Honest Review (2022)

During my family’s trip earlier this year to Ken Ham’s Family Homeschool Experience at the Ark Encounter, we took a day to visit the Creation Museum. It was the second time we had been there, and we enjoyed visiting this time even more than we did in 2014. Sadly, the Creation Museum is often forgotten or treated like an add-on for people visiting the Ark Encounter. Let me tell you, though, that the Creation Museum is the favorite Ken Ham attraction in my home. Check out my honest review below.

History Of The Creation Museum*

For many, the Creation Museum is that other place Ken Ham built. Folks know about the Ark Encounter’s construction and future plans for it because it is all over the internet. Christians were rejoicing when it was built, and secularists were laughing. But either way, people have had the Ark Encounter on their radar.

On the other hand, the Creation Museum is a less “spectacular” attraction and doesn’t look like much from the outside. So, unless an unbeliever follows Bill Nye (the Science Guy) and his debates with Ken Ham, she may not even know it exists. So, how did this museum end up in Kentucky, anyway?

A Winding Road

Unlike the Ark Encounter, Ham didn’t set out to make a museum and work tirelessly to construct it. Rather, it is the result of a winding road through ministry over the decades. Yes, decades.

Ham quit teaching public school science in Australia in 1979. He had spent the last three years speaking part-time on creation, but he and his wife decided to move forward to full-time ministry. Ham co-founded the Creation Science Foundation (CSF) with John Mackay. It began in the Hams’ home as a book supplier they called Creation Science Supplies and a teaching ministry called Creation Science Educational Media Services.

The ministry’s reach grew, and Ham and his family moved to the United States for a short while so that he could speak and take part making in a documentary. In 1986, CSR loaned Ham as a speaker to the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) in California, and the Ham family moved to the United States. In 1993, Ham left ICR to start a new ministry in the United States named Creation Science Ministries which we now know as Answers in Genesis (AiG). Not long after leaving ICR, AiG’s home base was set up in Florence, Kentucky. The ministry included a website, magazine, conferences, speaking engagements, and a radio program.  

But why stop there? Bring on the museum! The Creation Museum officially opened in the spring of 2007, twenty-eight years after Ken Ham left his teaching position for full-time ministry.

Why Is The Creation Museum Important?

So, what is the Creation Museum and why does it even exist? Personally, I thought it was going to be an unprofessional place with no quality exhibits. I was sort of picturing a sideshow on par with “Uncle Zeke’s Twine Emporium.”

Thankfully, my expectations were way off base. The AiG crew put every effort into making the Creation Museum a high caliber establishment, and the vision is clear from beginning to end of the guests’ visit.

There are countless books, videos, conferences, lectures, and whatnot on the topic of creation, and they all cover creation far more adequately than I can. However, I do want to emphasize the importance of teaching Christians about creation, making the Creation Museum an essential component of AiG’s ministry.

1. There is real, scientific evidence for a literal six-day creation.

2. Other theories of creation remove God completely, imply He couldn’t have created the world, or require death to occur before sin entered the world through the sin of Adam.

3. If we believe we can edit the parts of the Bible discussing creation, what more do we think we can change to suit our opinions?

4. Genesis is the foundation upon which the rest of the Bible is set. It literally gives us the history of the world dating back to God creating it, and rejecting that can only lead to rejecting more Bible truth.

Check out this article from AiG. It does a fantastic job explaining the importance of creation in the Christian faith. But, of course, so does the Creation Museum. So, let’s talk about what visiting it is like.

Creation Museum Lodging

The Creation Museum is located in Petersburg, Kentucky which is less than twenty-five minutes out of Cincinnati, Ohio and twenty minutes from Florence, Kentucky. Hotel options are not going to be a problem, and Airbnb-type rentals are also relatively easy to come by.

As always, if you have a big family, then the lodging situation can get pricey. We stayed near the Ark Encounter for our last visit, but we stayed at Homewood Suites by Hilton Cincinnati Airport South-Florence when we went with three children in 2014. Our suite had two bedrooms and a kitchenette with a full refrigerator, and the price was not restrictive, despite our very tight budget.

In the end, you can find something in most budgets because there will be a large selection in this area, but you might need to stay open to a bit more travel because the closer to Cincinnati you get, the pricier everything gets.

Creation Museum Parking

Parking at the Creation Museum is a 180-degree difference from parking at the Ark Encounter. It’s simple, requires no separate form of transportation, and you can get back to your vehicle easily.

Of course, there is a charge to park. Regular vehicles are $15, and the museum charges $20 for oversized vehicles.

My personal suggestion is to leave your lunch in the car, and then come back out to grab it for a picnic on the grounds. There are picnic pavilions and bathrooms available amongst the other outdoor attractions, and it will save you a bunch of money. Besides, you’re not missing much by skipping a Creation Museum meal. (More on that later.)

Creation Museum Tickets

Tickets to the Creation Museum are noticeably cheaper for adults than those at the Ark Encounter, but the difference isn’t big enough to take the bite out of the price. I think the price is completely worth it, especially if you take advantage of all there is to see on your visit, but cost is always something you need to consider when making travel plans.

Typically, anyone four and under is free, but children ten years old and under are currently free. We didn’t even run into the common fine print restriction of one free child per paying adult. Four of my five children were free.

Currently, there are three ticket options. Remember, under standard pricing only children four and under are free.

Creation Museum Tickets

$44.95 (18-59)

$39.95 (60+)

$24.95 (11-17)

FREE (10 and under)

Ark Encounter/Creation Museum Combo Tickets

$84.95 (18-59)

$74.95 (60+)

$44.95 (11-17)

FREE (10 and under)

3 Day Bouncer Tickets (gives a week to enter either attraction three separate days)

$99.95 (18-59)

$89.95 (60+)

$49.95 (11-17)

FREE (10 and under)

Creation Museum Food

Ken Ham is an intelligent man, fearlessly proclaims the gospel, and loves the Lord. But food… Food isn’t really his thing, I think. My review of the Ark Encounter discussed how underwhelmed I was with the food while also experiencing sticker shock. The Creation Museum is not all that different.

When we visited in 2014, I remember being impressed with the food options, but there was construction happening for a new exhibit on the lower level when we visited in 2022. So, the food options were severely limited, and I will only be able to discuss the food that was available on our most recent trip.

Noah’s Café

You can find Noah’s Café as soon as you leave the lobby area. There is plenty of seating indoors, and the café is properly themed for the name, yet it is not over-the-top with the ark vibe. There is extended seating outside overlooking a peaceful water view setting tucked in trees.

The menu is about as basic as it comes, but I imagine families with picky kids are happy to pay for yet another order of chicken tenders or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Other options include things like cheeseburgers, wraps, and premade salads. The food isn’t bad, and the options have improved over the years. But still, $7.00 for a cafeteria-quality garden salad feels a bit harsh.

The most recent menu I could find online was for 2021. Click HERE to take a look.

Noah’s Coffee and Ice Cream

If you know me, you’ll know I find it difficult to find fault in any place selling me coffee.

They offer coffee, lattes, frappes, hot tea, and iced drinks along with ice cream. So, if you want a quick and tasty dessert (i.e., ice cream) or prefer to pretend like you aren’t having a dessert when you really are (i.e., frappe), you’ll be covered.

Pricing at Noah’s Coffee and Ice Cream is on par with anywhere you are buying specialty coffee. To me, the pricing here was a nonissue. You’re either willing to spend $4.00 on a coffee you could have made for pennies on the dollar or you’re not. Am I right? My suggestion? Get the coffee. It’s going to be a long (but fun) day.

Uncle Leroy’s Fudge

Uncle Leroy can also be found at the Ark Encounter. We felt that the fudge was better at the Ark than what we tasted at the Creation Museum. Some of the fudge seemed a little stale, but I’m not overly surprised. We went in May which is still considered “off-season.” The Ark Encounter usually gets a lot of visitors off season, but I think the Creation Museum generally draws less traffic. I suppose that’s the difference between being a museum and being, as of 2016, the largest freestanding timber frame structure in the world. All that said, I imagine the Creation Museum is selling fudge less consistently than the Ark Encounter which inevitably leads to stale products. Either way, it was still pretty good.

The Lower Level

The real loss in food options was on the lower level. Due to construction, Palm Café and Grand Plaza Pizza were closed. I remember on our 2014 trip really enjoying eating there because it was a nice place to stop in the middle of the visit and let the kids have a snack and get some wiggles out. With these restaurants closed, however, you have to make your way all the way through the museum to get back to the food or eat before you begin. Hopefully, those options will be open again soon.

Terrace Grill

This food option is outside the museum, but it is also closed. I assume that has to do with not being peak season, but for now, I wouldn’t count on it being open no matter when you visit because the Creation Museum doesn’t have specific reasons available for the closure.

Creation Museum Attractions

There’s a lot to see at the Creation Museum, and it is all presented clearly and professionally in an interesting and engaging way. My entire family prefers the Creation Museum over the Ark Encounter from my husband down to my five-year-old. In fact, Ken Ham stated at the Homeschool Experience he hosted that he prefers the Creation Museum, too!

As you walk through the museum, you will walk through what AiG calls the Seven C’s of History: Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, Consummation. I won’t go through the attractions that specifically, but I’ll touch on highlights.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

This is the newest exhibit at the Creation Museum. With the Supreme Court throwing abortion law back to the states, the timing of this exhibit couldn’t be better. Since I was there in May, they have added to the exhibit, but the smaller version I saw was still quite impactful.

The pictures and explanations of development make the babies seem like real people. And that’s because they are real people! Fearfully and Wonderfully Made unapologetically teaches that God created all life, and life begins at conception.

It’s a must-see for all ages, and it can help those of us who feel uncertain about what to say when someone argues for abortion. This exhibit can make you feel more capable of saying abortion is never all right and be able to back up that claim.

Garden of Eden

This exhibit allows you to walk through an imagined recreation of what the Garden of Eden may have looked like. You’ll see and Adam and Eve, animals, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Trigger Warning: You’ll even see dinosaurs! (I sincerely hope you didn’t need a trigger warning, folks.)

The Effects of Sin

After the Fall, you walk through displays of how sin changed the world. At first, animals are killing and eating meat. Later, we see that sin has permeated through history and into today. My kids actually thought some of this was a little scary when they were younger.

The Flood/Noah’s Ark

This section of the Creation Museum is the precursor to the Ark Encounter. It shows visitors how the flood affected the world with images, videos, and fossils. Public schools have been teaching the fossil record as evidence for evolution, but the Creation Museum explains in great detail how the fossils are evidence for a catastrophic worldwide flood.

The museum also displays what the ark may have looked like, but now it looks sort of childish compared to the life-size version you can visit less than an hour away from the museum.

Allosaurus

Who doesn’t want to see dinosaurs?!

As a conservative Christian mother, I appreciate my children seeing a dinosaur at a museum that does not require that I tell them what parts of the placards are incorrect. “No, sweetie. That fossil isn’t millions of years old…”

The museum, as usual, does a spectacular job drawing connections between science and history as we see it in the Bible with this exhibit.

Interesting Fact: Because of how intact this dinosaur’s skull was when it was found, it offers strong evidence for a worldwide flood.

Dr. Crawley’s Insectorium

This is not my favorite exhibit, but most of my children loved it. It is a creation scientist’s collection of bugs that he donated to the Creation Museum so people could learn more about God’s creation and His purpose for these creepy crawlies.

I learned a fair bit, but I am still going to kill any household invaders, thank you very much.

Dinosaur Den

The Allosaurus is not the only dinosaur to see at the Creation Museum. The Dinosaur Den which is slightly too close to the insectorium, if you ask me (yuck!), features a triceratops skeleton and dinosaur sculptures.

There are small bits of information about dinosaurs throughout the exhibit, and there is an explanation about how a fossil does not need millions of years to form. For my kids, this was a highlight of the visit.

Dragon Legends

The Dragon Legends exhibit is in the hallway near the lobby. Information about dragons in the Bible and the legends about dragons throughout history is made available through small displays. I wish it had its own room because dragon mythology is interesting and draws kids and adults in to learn more.

Bible History

Throughout the Creation Museum you can find an explanation for the different “races” in a Tower of Babel exhibit, a deep dive on various well-known people from the Bible, an exhibit about the work Christ did on the cross for us, and a Borderland exhibit teaching what Israel was like at the time of Jesus.

Stargazer Planetarium

This was one of my favorite things we saw at the Creation Museum. The planetarium regularly alternates between two shows: Created Cosmos and Aliens: Fact or Fiction? During the holidays, they also show What Was the Christmas Star?

Regular Tickets:

$9.00

$6.00 (Ages 5-10)

FREE (4 and under)

Additional Shows:

$5.00

$3.00 (Ages 5-10)

FREE (4 and under)

All shows are approximately 23 minutes long, and it is wise to arrive 15 minutes early.

Quick Tip: I suffer from motion sickness, but I felt queasy only one time during the show we watched. If you start to feel unwell, though, just close your eyes. It’ll pass quickly.

Botanical Gardens

The Creation Museum is surrounded by various gardens with walking paths. It’s quiet and peaceful, and my family almost never ran into other people. Some of the most notable features include the butterfly/hummingbird garden, the bog garden, and the koi pond garden.

My children enjoyed the wobbly wooden bridge most. I mean, c’mon, a loud shaking bridge? That’s good stuff to any kid.

Eden Animal Experience

This is a small zoo outside in the botanical gardens area. Compared to Ararat Ridge Zoo at the Ark Encounter, it is quite small. However, it is a very nice addition to your walk around the gardens.

You’ll likely see alpacas, goats, wallabies, and a number of other friendly animals. No lions here, ladies.

If you time it right, you can have a hands-on experience in the petting zoo and catch an educational presentation.

Children’s Playground

The playground at the Creation Museum is near the picnic pavilions and zoo. It was a fun diversion for children who desperately needed to run around a bit. I will say, though, that it is small compared to the playground at the Ark Encounter. It’s worth a visit if you have children, but it is pretty small.

4D Special Effects Theater

The 4D theater rotates two shows throughout the day: Encounter the Wonder (11 minutes) and In Six Days (22 minutes). The pricing was the biggest surprise to me. It is included with your Creation Museum ticket.

My family and I watched In Six Days, and I thought it was very well done. It was as if we were present at creation. The narrator read Scripture, and we watched it unfold in 4D. I enjoyed it, but I especially appreciated how it brought creation to life for my children.

Dragon Hall Bookstore

If I was undecided on the Creation Museum, then the bookstore is where I decide that I love it. For one, it looks like you’re in a castle, and there are dragons outside the entrance. That’s just super fun. More importantly, though, the bookstore has great merchandise.

The store carries creation themed toys, books, and science toys for kids. For teens and adults, you can find movies and books concerning creation, homeschooling, and apologetics. This bookstore is unquestionably aiming to equip Christians to engage with the community on spiritual issues.

Dragon Hall Bookstore also sells the typical gift shop items such as ornaments, magnets, clothing, etc. If you plan it well and have a helpful husband, then he can grab you a coffee from Noah’s Coffee and Ice Cream while you wait in line and pay for your souvenirs. Let’s just say, we tested this theory…

Zip Lines

Looking for adventure? Screaming Raptor Zip Lines provides adventure experiences at the Creation Museum. They advertise zip line courses, aerial challenges, free falls, and team building.

Prices very depending on the activity and length of the experience. I have included zip line information below.

Level 1 (1 hour): $49.00

Level 2 (2 hours): $69.00

Level 3 (3 hours): $99.00

Level 4 (4 hours): $129.00

Level 5 (5 hours): $169.00

Extra Tips For Visiting The Creation Museum

Footwear And Strollers

There is a lot of walking. If you aren’t normally physically active, then plan for rests as you tour the museum. Most importantly, wear comfortable shoes. This isn’t a fashion show. Your four-inch heels and skinny jeans might look cute together, but you’ll be better off planning to wear comfortable shoes and clothes that do not cut off circulation.

I also recommend strollers for your Littles. I won’t tell you what ages need a stroller because you know your children much better than I do. If you foresee meltdowns or needing to be carried, plan on having a stroller available.

Budget For Extras

Plan your spending ahead. Do you want to go to the planetarium? Are you packing lunches and snacks or planning to buy them? Do you need a Creation Museum coffee mug? Will you send me one?

This trip doesn’t need to cost much more than the tickets, travel expenses, and lodging. On the other hand, it can quickly cost more than those things if you don’t plan ahead. Y’all, be honest with yourselves. You are going to want extras. So, plan on them.

Presentations

Check the schedule before you head to the museum because they often feature speakers, live performances, videos, and even family concerts on the lower level.

Getting Lost

OK. I have to admit something kind of embarrassing. My family and I totally got lost at some point during our visit. The signage on the stairs was not great, and what I mean is…nonexistent. We were looking for a way to ditch out of the museum about halfway through for a lunch break, but we couldn’t find any early exit. We literally had to backtrack through half the museum to get to the lobby again.

Later, when we had finished the lower level which was deafeningly loud from construction, we struggled to figure out how to get out and which way to turn once we had gotten upstairs. Again, there were zero signs.

Maybe we’re just bad at navigating museums. Perhaps, the construction made things more challenging. Either way, pay attention to your surroundings and grab a map.

Final Thought

I highly recommend the Creation Museum to all Christians. I do, however, suggest going in with an open mind. Sadly, many Christians have rejected a literal six-day creation, and it often shows in the rest of their rejection of difficult things in the Bible. The Creation Museum isn’t some weirdo’s garage filled with conspiracy theories. It’s a scientific display of God’s creation and support for the biblical account.

Don’t treat the Creation Museum as a quick stop on the way through town. You will need a day to truly get everything you can out of it. In all honesty, I could have come back a second day if I had time to see more. Meanwhile, I feel as if I could skip the Ark Encounter if pressed for time on a future visit.

The Creation Museum may not be the headlining spectacle that the Ark Encounter is, but it is an unforgettable experience and opportunity to see creation through an unadulterated biblical viewpoint.

Have you been to the Creation Museum? What did you think about it?

*All information about the history of the Creation Museum was from the AiG website.

Image courtesy of Brett Jordan via Unsplash.