The Railroad and the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C.

On Friday, November 17, 2017, the Museum of the Bible opened its doors to the public.  Inside, you will see interactive exhibits on the Bible as well as displays of the manuscript from ancient times to the modern day.  Everywhere you go you will find a detailed display of the history of the Bible as well as the history of the men and women throughout history who helped spread the news of the Bible around the world.  When you visit the Museum of the Bible, you will see that it is like no other museum in the world.

Now some of you are saying, “How interesting.  They created a museum around the Bible.  There are a few problems I see.  First, this is called the Museum of the Bible and not the Museum of the Railroad.  Second, there are no railroads here other than the railroad line that passes by the museum.  Third, there is no mention of railroads in the Bible.  Since this place has nothing to do with railroads, I will have nothing to do with this museum.”

You are correct to say that this is the Museum of the Bible and not the Museum of the Railroad.  You are correct to say that there are no railroads, not even a model train display, at this museum.  You are correct to say that there is no mention of railroads in the Bible.  However, you are incorrect to say that the Museum of the Bible has nothing to do with railroads.

Before the building was reconstructed into the Museum of the Bible, it was a federal office building.  What does a federal office building have to do with the railroad?  You will have to go back to the time before it was a federal office building.  The building was originally a warehouse.

As you enter the museum, you see a large gold tablet with ancient writings from the Bible before.  Then you look across the street.  You see a concrete embankment where you can see where there is a place where a bridge once crossed the street.  That bridge was a railroad bridge where a short spur line entered into what is not the museum.  You enter the main lobby, and you look up into the open space.  You see a hologram of patterns that constant change.  At this point, you are standing under the spot where box cars where loaded and unloaded daily.  You then realize that you are standing at a place of railroad history.  Another great thing about visiting the Museum of the Bible is that once you are finished touring the museum, you can go outside and watch the trains go by.

The Museum of the Bible is located at 400 4^th Street SW in Washington D.C.  It is just a couple of blocks from the National Mall and the Smithsonian Museums.  Admission is free, but timed entry tickets are required on days where there is heavy attendance.  You can get more information at https://www.museumofthebible.org.