The $60 million Faith and Freedom Museum opened in Philadelphia by the American Bible Society during the pandemic is closing.
25,000 square feet Faith and Liberty Discovery Center, which opened to much fanfare in 2021 as a museum exploring the role of the Bible and faith in American history, announced in an email to staff on March 13 that it would be closing. The museum won awards and received rave reviews, but it didn’t have the foot traffic its supporters had hoped for. In 2021, the American Bible Society Said The museum has the potential to draw 225,000 visitors each year to explore the “deep influence of the Bible on our nation.”
The museum was billed as “Philadelphia’s most immersive museum,” with a prominent location overlooking Independence Hall.
Jennifer Holloran, president of the American Bible Society, told staff in an email that “the FLDC was a wonderful and innovative idea as conceived.” religion news service It cited the email and said it had been obtained by Ministry Watch. “The idea came with great potential and requirements to make it work in the long term. Unfortunately, despite the valiant efforts of FLDC leadership and the team, we lacked the capabilities necessary to make such an experience successful.” long-term sustainability could not be achieved.”
a spokesperson said philadelphia enquirer It said the pandemic and “structural limitations” led to the closure.
“We are thrilled to serve Faith & Liberty Discovery Center and have been proud to serve it for many years in the heart of Independence Mall, where Faith & Liberty Discovery Center inspires, engages, and inspires the individual in a variety of ways. It has been an honor to witness what has been the catalyst for such discoveries,” said Rob Wonderling, executive director of Faith and Liberty Discovery Center. Liberty Discovery Center.
The center celebrated its full grand opening in the summer of 2021 after the City of Philadelphia lifted COVID-19 restrictions. Robert L. Briggs, then president of the American Bible Society, said in 2021 the center is inviting visitors to “rediscover the Bible’s unique role in America’s story.” The museum featured “25,000 square feet of interactive gallery space with groundbreaking technology,” according to a news release. It was backed by Mart Green of the Hobby Lobby Green family.
“We are excited to see the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center come to life. Our family believes in the Center’s mission to educate the public about the importance of the influence of the Bible, so we are excited to see it come into existence. We have supported this historic effort since,” Green said in 2021. If they read the Bible about individuals throughout American history, they will be inspired to read it for themselves. ”
Investigators say it will be open to visitors until March 28.
Image credits: Facebook/FaithandLibertyDiscoveryCenter
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His story was published in Baptist Press. Christianity Today, Christian Poecent, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star and of knoxville news sentinel.
