August 01, 2018

Press Release

Museum of the Bible Debuts Immersive Virtual Reality Tour of Iconic Biblical Sites

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2018—Today, Museum of the Bible debuted its Explore! A Virtual Reality Tour of the Lands of the Bible experience, which takes visitors on a 360-degree virtual tour of more than two dozen famous biblical sites in Israel. Developed by Sonterra Labs, Explore! is one of the newest additions to the museum that invites all people to engage with the history, narrative and impact of the Bible.

The Explore! virtual reality experience, located on the museum’s first floor, transports visitors to iconic biblical sites to explore the sights and sounds of places referenced in the Bible. Museum visitors can explore the Sea of Galilee, climb the stairs to the Temple Mount, follow the path of the Good Samaritan and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during midnight services, among other places.

“One of Museum of the Bible’s goals is to use innovative technology to create the most engaging museum experience possible,” said Chris Lyons, chief operation officer of Museum of the Bible. “This virtual reality experience will not only bring biblical sites to life but will also help our visitors engage with the Bible in new and compelling ways.

The show is the first of many to be created for the new attraction, which will eventually take visitors to biblical sites around the world.

Biblical sites highlighted in the virtual reality experience include:

  • The Sea of Galilee
  • The Temple Mount
  • The Good Samaritan’s path
  • The Church of the Holy Sepulcher
  • The Jordan River
  • The Church of the Transfiguration
  • The Western Wall
  • The Garden of Gethsemane
  • The Judean Wilderness

Museum of the Bible’s Explore! virtual reality experience costs $8.95 per person and is just one of many new additions to the 430,000-square-foot museum since its opening in November 2017. As a part of temporary exhibition gallery space, the museum recently opened a new exhibit, Jerusalem and Rome: Culture in Context in the First Century CE, which presents a selection of archeological remains from Israel in the first century CE and was made possible by the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The newest temporary exhibit, Pilgrim Preacher: Billy Graham, the Bible, and the Challenges of the Modern World, opens Aug. 5, and will provide a historical examination of the life, work and cultural significance of Billy Graham.