The ARK Encounter

Ark Encounter features a full-size Noah’s Ark, built according to the dimensions given in the Bible. Spanning 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, this modern engineering marvel amazes visitors young and old. Ark Encounter is situated in beautiful Grant County in Williamstown, Kentucky, halfway between Cincinnati and Lexington and right off I-75.

Here's some information I found as we toured this remarkable exhibit. "As you enter Noah’s world aboard the massive Ark, you’ll tour three decks filled with scores of world-class exhibit bays. These stunning exhibits allow you to experience what Noah’s life may have been like."

"The Bible says that God told Noah to take two of every kind of animal on the ark and seven pairs of the clean animals and flying creatures."

"Does this mean every species was on the ark? No. Species is a term used in the modern classification system. The Bible uses the term “kind.” The created kind was a much broader category than the modern classification term, species. The biblical concept of created “kind” probably most closely corresponds to the family level in the current taxonomy. A good rule of thumb is that if two things can breed together, they are of the same created kind. It is a bit more complicated, but this is a good quick measure of a “kind.”

There can be a tremendous amount of variation within a created kind. For example, various types of dogs, such as wolves, dingoes, coyotes, jackals, and domestic dogs, can often breed with one another. When dogs breed together, you get dogs—so there is a dog kind.

"Recent studies estimate the total number of living and extinct kinds of land animals and flying creatures to be 1,398. With our “worst-case” scenario approach to calculating the number of animals on the ark, this would mean that Noah cared for 6,744 animals."

In addition to the ARK exhibit, we attended three presentations in the "Answer Center". The 'Building of the Ark Encounter' was about the genesis of the project idea and how it was eventually constructed over a two year period. The second live presentation was with Patricia Engler, 'How to Think About “Facts” that Challenge Your Faith'. Patricia Engler serves as a speaker and author for Answers in Genesis on the subject of apologetics. The last dramatic presentation was an all-student ensemble cast from Bob Jones University presenting the Peter and Georgi Vins story of Russian persecution, imprisonment, and hope. Live and computer-generated characters interact against a spectacular 70-foot LED backdrop. Is Jesus more precious than the approval of any government? This true-life father-son story inspired both of us to hold fast to our faith—no matter the cost.