What's in It Will Surprise You

Upcoming Exhibits

Serving the Soviets: One Man’s Quest to Bring Bibles to the USSR

Open now through January 2, 2022
Floor 2

While an outright ban on the Bible never existed in the USSR during the Cold War, many religions, and religious practices, were essentially forced out of public life by the state. Despite this opposition, Ken, and many others, believed that anyone who wanted a copy of the Bible should have one; so they set out to bring Bibles across the border. This exhibit is about his story — the tale of an ordinary man who did extraordinary things to share the Bible with the world.

Magna Carta: Tyranny. Justice. Liberty.

Opening July 2, 2021

Floor 5

The story of the Magna Carta is the story of the struggle against tyranny. In this special exhibition, the role of the Bible and the English Church in that struggle will be traced from the creation of the Magna Carta in the thirteenth century to the present day. The Bible has much to say about rulers and ruling justly, such as Isaiah 10:1, “Woe unto those who make unjust laws,” or Psalm 2:10–11, “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” Verses like these and others show the Bible’s position on tyranny and injustice, and have been discussed and debated time and again over the centuries by both rulers and the ruled.

New Artifacts

President Jimmy Carter’s Bible — New Marked Reference Bible, King James Version

Currently on display, Floor 2

Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the United States. He received this Bible in 1975, shortly before he was elected to office, as a Christmas present from his brother Billy. In addition to personal notes, President Carter also recorded the contact information for his Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Washington, DC.

Greek Gospel Manuscript

Currently on display, Floor 4

This manuscript of the four Gospels comes from a monastery in southern Italy, which at the time was under Byzantine control. It contains text in two columns of 27 lines written by multiple scribes in Greek. Details of the artifact provide evidence that the manuscript was among those looted from the Theotokos Eikosiphoinissa Monastery (also known as Kosinitza Monastery) on March 27, 1917, by Vladimir Sis and approximately 60 Bulgarian partisans known as komitadji. Museum of the Bible will return this artifact to the monastery in October.

Engage with Museum of the Bible from Home

Can’t visit the museum? Engage with us online through the Museum of the Bible digital resources, including:

NEW! The Bible is So …

You loved them in Lonesome Curator, now our curators are back in this new monthly series, The Bible is So …. Hear some of their favorite facts, find out what fascinates them, and discover some of the stories they’ve uncovered in our artifacts. The topics are endless, and so is the fun, on The Bible is So …

Museum of the Bible Podcast

Join Museum of the Bible and our guest speakers and scholars as we discuss a variety of topics relating to the history and impact of the Bible.

Upcoming Events

NEW! Lunch and Learn

Museum of the Bible’s “Lunch and Learn” programs are free, one-hour conversations held on the last Wednesday of each month with a curator or outside speaker discussing popular and relevant topics. Join us May 26 for Saving the Shrine of the Prophet Nahum, where you will learn about the significance of the Shrine of Prophet Nahum and efforts to restore this historical site. Lunch and Learn: Saving the Shrine of the Prophet Nahum is free and open to the public and will be held virtually through Zoom.

Ancient Faith: The Churches of Nagorno-Karabakh

Online Exhibition and Event

On June 2, you are cordially invited to celebrate the launch of a new online exhibition documenting the sacred sites of Nagorno-Karabakh, historically known to Armenians as Artsakh. Explore the online exhibit and learn about the stories of these remarkable sites now threatened by cultural erasure. Meet some of the people who live and worship there and hear them tell their stories.

The event marking the launch of Ancient Faith: The Churches of Nagorno-Karabakh includes a virtual panel discussion consisting of esteemed scholars, preservation experts, and church representatives. Some of the topics will include the church sites and their architecture, the risks they currently face, and the need to preserve these irreplaceable churches and material culture.

This is an online-only event. Registration is required, but there is no admission fee.