Several years ago our church youth group visited the reproduction of Noah’s Ark in Williamstown, Kentucky. The feedback was intriguing, so my husband Neil and I made plans to go when we had time, and now, four days, seven states, two family visits and 1,300 miles later we can say we saw it, were awed, and think you might enjoy it as well.

Of course, I am talking about the ark from the Bible story we learned as kids about how God flooded the world due to all the sin but saved Noah and his family because “Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.” Oh, wouldn’t I love to hear God saying those same words about me.

As we drove from O.C. to Kentucky we first stopped to visit my two sisters in western Pennsylvania. It was the perfect distance to allow us a good night’s sleep, an early start, and time to spend the next afternoon at the Creation Museum – more about that later.

The morning after, as we joined others in line we could see only glimpses of the ark in the distance. We rode to the site on a bus, and once through the gates we finally viewed the ark in its entirety. That is when I finally grasped its enormous size. The reproduction was built using the measurements from Genesis and is approximately 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high. It is One Big Boat – around the height of a six-story building and 150 feet longer than a football field. I never dreamed the ark was this immense.

There were over 3 million board feet of lumber used for this copy, which adds to the amazement of the original project. Just where did Noah get all the wood? When I looked up and up and up to the heights and width of the ark I could not imagine it took anything less than an entire forest to create. Noah was obviously a very devout and obedient man as well as a hard worker and skilled craftsman. And Mrs. Noah and their three sons must all have been involved in the long days and years it took to build this massive floating home and zoo.

Seeing the outside alone was worth the visit, but of course this ark is also filled with creative wonders and many displays of what might have been ideas given by God to Noah to prepare all the humans and animals to safely withstand the long rain-filled voyage. What we do know is that God picked Noah, told him to take his family, and that He would send pairs of animals to be saved from the upcoming flood.

Since the Bible gave no description of the interior, we were advised to view what was on-site as the developers’ “taking creative license.” Upon entering the ark we were treated to loud thunder and the sound of water hitting the boat and then animal coos and squeals. We viewed types of cages that might have been used as well as an imaginative system to water and feed so many critters of such a wide variety.

The craftsmanship of everything is magnificent and, as the story is told via video about the building of this wonderful re-creation, the man behind the idea, Ken Ham, said just as God sent the animals to Noah for the first ark He also sent the specialized craftsman and skilled workers needed to build the re-creation. Two local Amish men took charge of the framing, as they were familiar with building large buildings in the style needed for this ark to be realistic.

The Ark Encounter came about because of the curiosity of those who first visited the Creation Museum – both were built by Answers in Genesis. The Creation Museum, built first and years before, is an evangelistic museum explaining creation as God tells us in His Word, the Bible, but it also refutes various unproven theories floated about from time to time.

It is well done and very informative, and I would say to anyone not knowing the Bible well or not completely believing the truth of the Bible, you would be better prepared by visiting this museum before heading to the ark. It gives a good background as to why the ark was necessary and tells of God’s merciful saving grace.

Neil and I enjoyed both the Creation Museum and the ark and, on the way back home, we had the opportunity to visit with a niece and her lovely family, and we had a wonderful time. It was a delightful learning experience and a chance to see our family, which was importance to us.

I do hope you might enjoy this adventure too.

Editor’s note: Amy Patsch writes from Ocean City. Email her at writerGoodGod@gmail.com.