Wednesday, November 20, 3:30pm – 5:00pm, via Zoom
Margaret Priest
Dr. Laurel Taylor, Art History
The Museum of the Bible was opened in 2017 as an evangelical project funded by the billionaire Green family of Hobby Lobby ownership. The Washington, D.C. museum is an immense organization with multifaceted exhibits displaying the Bible’s history, stories, and significance in the United States. Much of the collection was begun by family members starting in 2009, without adequate acquisition policies. As a result, the museum has faced legal, ethical, and scientific controversies for the past decade. Despite its controversial reputation, the museum has begun to amend and rebuild proper policies according to industry standards. The museum also represents breakthroughs in sharing an accessible history of the Bible and bringing engagement to museums.
Development in the museum’s decision-making challenges if it can be trusted to present cultural heritage accurately. My investigation methodology includes visits to the museum, interviews with curators, and an analysis of related news and literature. I offer that the museum cannot fully reconcile its recent museological efforts with the shadow of its ideological roots. While the museum may do good things, its background is still biased, and thus, the museum cannot currently commit to prioritizing academic integrity. The Museum of the Bible is a model for understanding the competing interests influencing museums today. At the end of this thesis, I speculate how the Museum of the Bible could indicate future turns in the museum world.