It’s finally open!

We’re excited to announce that another milestone has been reached as we approach the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Ark Encounter. The stunning new Welcome Center opened last month.

Take a look at these photos of the new space.

The Welcome Center is an exhibit in itself. It is simply amazing!

Get a closer look in this short ribbon-cutting video from Ken Ham’s YouTube channel.

This building will also house our upcoming scale model of Jerusalem. Our design teams are doing a phenomenal job recreating first-century Jerusalem. This scale model will be the most accurate and up-to-date when it opens. Stay tuned for more exciting updates about this ongoing project.

Plan your visit to the Ark Encounter soon to see our brand-new Welcome Center for yourself! And don’t forget—kids 10 and under visit for free.

Celebrate Our 10th Anniversary with Us!

Save the date and start making plans to celebrate the Ark Encounter’s 10-year anniversary with a special three-day event, July 9–11, 2026! Hear from Ken Ham, Steve Green, and Ray Comfort and enjoy worship with TrueSong.

Registration includes a 3-day pass to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum.

Several optional add-on experiences are also available for this event. Choose one, two, or all three when you register.

• Enjoy dessert with Ray Comfort and Ken Ham on Friday, July 10
• Hear from astronauts Captain Barry Wilmore and Colonel Jeffrey Williams during Astronaut Encounter 2 on Saturday, July 11 (also available as a standalone purchase)
• Have dinner with the astronauts on Saturday, July 11

Registration will open soon. Keep an eye on ArkEncounter.com/anniversary for more information.

As we head into Easter weekend, we’re reminded of the ultimate hope found in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Just as Noah and his family entered through one door to find rescue, this special time of the year points us to the one true door to eternal life: Jesus Christ.

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved . . .” (John 10:9)

When God told Noah to build the ark to survive the flood he would send upon an exceedingly wicked world, he instructed Noah to put one door in the side of the ark.

“. . . and set the door of the ark in its side.” (Genesis 6:16)

Noah and his family entered the ark through that one door to be saved from the watery judgment.

“Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation . . . And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood.” (Genesis 7:1, 7)

Noah and his family entering the ark through the door reminds us of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Just as God judged the world with the flood, he will judge it again, but the final judgement will be by fire. We have all sinned against our holy Creator and deserve the penalty of death. Without God’s forgiveness of our sins, when we die, we would be separated from him forever in what the Bible calls the second death (Revelation 20:14).

However, God has provided the means for salvation by sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to die as our substitute on the cross. Jesus endured the penalty for our sin and conquered death by rising from the grave. Everyone who asks for his forgiveness and trusts in him will be saved from the second death and live with him for eternity.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

The ark’s door reminds us that we need to go through a door to be saved. Jesus Christ is our one door to salvation, the “ark” that saves us from God’s judgment for eternity.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

We’re excited to announce something new being offered at the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum—guided tours! Many people and groups have asked for such guided tours over the years, so we are thrilled this is now a reality.

Inspire Tours has been offering tours at the Museum of the Bible for several years, along with international excursions, and now they’re bringing their mission to provide “experiences that deepen faith” to our two attractions.

Now you have the option to add a tour to your visit by selecting a tour date from Inspire’s online calendar for the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum, or you can choose to add a tour after you arrive (however, tour group sizes are limited; purchasing in advance is recommended to ensure they’re not sold out on your visit date). These 90-minute tours offer an enriching experience that highlights key exhibits and illuminates Scripture.

Our founder, Ken Ham, and others at AiG worked with Inspire to provide the scripts and content for their tours. So it is all endorsed and approved by Answers in Genesis.

Start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter today, and consider adding a guided tour to your experience.

The fossil record reveals that many ice age animals grew larger than their ancestors from the time of the flood. Why would these creatures increase in size in colder climates?

During cooler conditions, larger animals generally have many survival advantages over the smaller representatives within the same kind.

• Larger animals are usually better at intimidating predators.
• Larger animals often move faster.
• Larger animals typically stay warmer due to an advantageous surface area-to-volume ratio.
• Larger animals tend to live longer.
• Larger animals require less food per pound.

Let’s take a look at a few of these animals.

Mammuthus: “Earth Horn”

Stretching over 11 feet high at the shoulders, Mammuthus primigenius—or the woolly mammoth—was about the same size as a modern African elephant and was recovered from Miocene through Holocene rock layers on every continent except Antarctica and Australia.

• Height: 11 ft. (3 m)
• Weight: 14,700 lb. (6,670 kg)
• Family: Elephantidae
• Kind: Elephant

Image by Cropbot, via Wikimedia Commons. (CC BY 2.5)

Gigantopithecus: “Giant Ape”

Standing up to 10 feet tall and weighing more than two gorillas, Gigantopithecus blacki was the largest known ape and was recovered from Pleistocene rock layers of Southeast Asia.

• Height: 10 ft. (3 m)
• Weight:1,200 lb. (540 kg)
• Family: Pongidae
• Kind: Great Ape

Image by Amélie, via Wikimedia Commons. (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Glyptodon: “Grooved Tooth”

Roughly the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, Glyptodon was the largest of the armadillo-like glyptodonts and was recovered from Pliocene and Holocene rock layers of North and South America.

• Height: 5 ft. (1.5 m)
• Weight: 4,400 lb. (2,000 kg)
• Family: Glyptodontidae
• Kind: Glyptodont*

*A recent analysis placed Glytodonts within a living armadillo family, Chlomyphoridae.

Image by WolfmanSF, via Wikimedia Commons. (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Megatherium: “Giant Beast”

Reaching up to 20 feet (6 m) in length and weighing as much as an Asian elephant, Megatherium americanum was the largest known ground sloth and was recovered from Miocene through Holocene rock layers of North and South America.

• Height: 20 ft. (6 m)
• Weight: 8,700 lb. (3,950 kg)
• Suborder: Folivora
• Kind: Sloth

Image by NobuTamura, via Wikimedia Commons. (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Castoroides: “Beaver Form”

Attaining a length of over seven feet and the weight of a large human, Castoroides—or the giant beaver—was the largest known beaver and was recovered from Pliocene and Pleistocene rock layers of North America.

• Length: 7 ft. (2 m)
• Weight: 240 lb. (110 kg)
• Family: Castoridae
• Kind: Beaver

Image by A. C. Tatarinov, via Wikimedia Commons. (Public domain)

Start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter today, and learn more about the ice age on Deck 3 of our life-size Noah’s Ark!

After Noah and his family left the ark, he built an altar and offered sacrifices to the Lord. We can only imagine the immense awe and gratefulness he felt at being once again on safe, dry ground, knowing the global catastrophe of the last year was finally over.

Scripture tells us that God accepted this sacrifice and his response to Noah and his sons was threefold: a blessing, instructions, and a covenant (Genesis 8:21–9:17).

Some of what we see in this passage reflects the original blessings/commands given to Adam and Eve at creation: for them to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” and for mankind to have dominion over the creatures of the earth (Genesis 1:28, 9:1–2). The Lord also reemphasized that humans are his image bearers, instituted capital punishment for murder, and gave mankind permission to add meat to their diets.

But perhaps the most well-known and remembered part of this exchange is the covenant detailed in Genesis 9:8–17. In this covenant between the Lord, mankind, and the creatures of the earth—including “all future generations” (Genesis 9:12)—God promised he would never again destroy the earth and its inhabitants with a global flood.

He then established the rainbow as the sign of this everlasting covenant—a sign that still testifies to his covenantal promise given over 4,000 years ago.

You can see many of the details from Genesis 7–9 depicted in our Rainbow Covenant exhibit on Deck Three of our life-size Noah’s Ark. During your visit to the Ark Encounter, don’t miss this stunning display.

And as you plan your trip, don’t forget that if you visit us during the month of February, you can save 20% on your general admission tickets. Just use coupon code FEB2026—and remember, kids 10 and under are free!

Please be aware, these special-offer tickets must be purchased online and used by February 28, 2026. During February, we are open Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Impact Lives for Eternity

Are you looking for a seasonal job where you can make an eternal impact? Right now, we are hiring seasonal help as we begin preparing for our busy spring and summer seasons. Positions are available to suit a wide variety of shifts and schedules. To learn more and to apply today, visit ArkEncounter.com/jobs.

We’re excited to announce a special promotion we’re running for February 2026. When you visit the Ark Encounter and/or the Creation Museum, you can enjoy a special discounted price—20% off single-day general admission.

February is a great time to visit and really soak in the exhibit content, as our off-season means smaller crowds.

At the Ark Encounter, meet the animals in the Ararat Ridge Zoo, take the kids for a ride on our unique indoor carousel, stroll through three decks of faith-affirming exhibits in the life-size Noah’s Ark, and much more.

And while you’re here visiting the Ark, be sure to head to the Creation Museum as well! Your family can enjoy the brand-new Radiance exhibit, an exploration of identity from a biblical worldview, or enjoy the beauty of God’s creation in the Plants of the Bible conservatory, consisting of four climate-controlled greenhouses (tropical, subtropical, Mediterranean, and arid) featuring plants that can be found in the Bible, as the name suggests.

Don’t miss this special promotion. Use coupon code FEB2026 to receive 20% off your single-day general admission tickets—and remember, kids 10 and under are free!

Please be aware, these special-offer tickets must be purchased online and used by February 28, 2026. During February, we are open Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We hope to see you this month!

Imagine being one of eight people in the entire world to survive a catastrophe. What questions would you have? Near the Ark’s door, Japheth’s wife struggles with difficult questions related to how a loving God could allow so much death and suffering.

The questions that Noah’s family may have had are still being asked today. When you visit the Ark Encounter, get answers to these questions and more.

Was It Just for God to Judge the Whole World?

First, God created all living things, which gives him authority over them. Since he is the one who gave life, he has the right to take life. Second, God is perfectly just and must judge sin. Third, all have sinned and deserve death and judgment (Romans 3:23).

The fact that God allows us to live at all demonstrates his abundant mercy. And as if that were not enough, he provided the way for man to be saved from sin and dwell eternally with God through the sacrificial death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9).

Why Does a Loving God Allow So Much Death and Suffering?

If the God of the Bible is truly all-powerful and loving, why has he not put an end to death and suffering? Is he incapable or unwilling to do it?

The Bible states that one day death and suffering will be no more. Right now, God is patiently delaying the final judgment to give people time to turn to him (2 Peter 3:9).

We need to understand that as sinners, we all deserve to die. However, through Jesus Christ, God has provided the way for us to spend eternity with him in a place where there is no suffering, sorrow, pain, or death (Revelation 21:3–4).

Start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter today and see for yourself how the Ark is a reminder of God’s justice, mercy, and way of salvation—Jesus.

The phenomenal live production of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has turned the Answers Center into the world of Narnia over the past few weekends at the Ark Encounter.

Thousands of guests have enjoyed the stunning performances, but don’t worry—if you haven’t been able to catch one yet, you still have time! The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has several performances left. This show is running on select days through January 17, 2026.

When the four Pevensie children are sent to the country to live with an eccentric professor to escape the bombings in England, little do they know what incredible adventures await. A mysterious wardrobe gives them access to the magical world of Narnia, where the evil White Witch rules, keeping the land in a constant winter. With the sacrifice and help of the great lion, Aslan, the four Pevensies fight to banish the White Witch and break her hold over the land of Narnia.

Don’t miss your opportunity to enjoy The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in the Answers Center at the Ark Encounter. Get your tickets today!

Today, we reflect on the true meaning of the Christmas season. It is a time to share in the joy of Jesus Christ’s birth and to thank God for his faithfulness.

And in the same region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:8–14)

Still Time to Enjoy Christmas at the Ark Encounter

Just because today is Christmas doesn’t mean you have to stop celebrating this special time of the year. You have two more weekends to enjoy Christmas at the Ark Encounter. This event runs from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on select days through January 3, 2026.

So if your family and friends are in town this week, bring them out for an unforgettable evening of festive lights; a hearty, family-affordable holiday buffet meal inside Emzara’s Buffet (open until 7:30 p.m.); animal shows at the Ararat Ridge Zoo; fair trade shopping; and so much more.

Start planning your Christmas at the Ark Encounter trip today!

Once again, we are excited to announce that a family foundation has stepped forward to offer a matching gift opportunity toward our end-of-year campaign this year—up to $10 million! What a blessing!

These expansion initiatives aim to impact and bring more guests to the evangelistic Ark Encounter. These include the addition of two major exhibits and expansion/infrastructure activities in preparation for future, family-friendly attractions at the Ark that will cater to younger audiences. The two new major exhibits will feature artifacts on loan from the Israel Antiquities Authority. This expansion includes:

Megiddo Mosaic

This nearly 1,800-year-old mosaic floor, excavated from a prison in Megiddo, Israel, is the oldest archaeological find (outside of manuscripts) proclaiming that Jesus is God. Combined with other artifacts, videos, and life-size figures to be displayed in a new traveling exhibit area in the Answers Center, this highly popular exhibit will draw additional guests to see this incredible piece of evidence for biblical history.

Israel Antiquities Authority Artifacts Room

Over 100 authentic artifacts from Israel’s Second Temple period (approximately 516 BC–AD 70) will be on display in a special room (currently unfinished) in our upcoming first-century Jerusalem model building. These artifacts will provide further context to the model and give guests an opportunity to see items made and used in Israel during the time the model depicts.

We are so grateful for this opportunity to fully fund these projects. Each gift is matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10 million through the end of the year. If you’d like to join us in these projects, visit our donate page and help us reach even more people with the truth of God’s Word and the gospel message.

Christmas at the Ark Encounter is back! Beginning tonight and running through January 3, 2026, this special event runs from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on select nights.

In addition to the beautiful light displays guests have come to love, you won’t want to miss these exciting aspects of Christmas at the Ark.

Laser Light Show on the Life-Size Noah’s Ark

Enjoy a laser show on the side of our life-size Noah’s Ark all night long. Then catch Light in the Darkness and our new show, March of the Animals, which depicts animals walking up the Ark’s long ramp and entering the ship, at select times during the evening.

Christmas Speaker Sessions

Join one of our dynamic speakers for a special Christmas presentation as they share the hope and joy of Christ’s birth. Learn why the history in Genesis 1–11 is foundational to the message of Christmas.

Special Events

The Zealot’s Fight

Join us Friday, December 5, 2025, as our Answers Academy students present to you The Zealot’s Fight. This heart-wrenching drama connects the babe in the manger to the hope of the cross by following the story of a young girl through her grief and suffering that began in Bethlehem.

Step back into the world of first-century Judea, where Roman oppression looms heavy, and one young zealot struggles with anger, vengeance, and the longing for freedom. The Zealot’s Fight is a powerful original drama by the students of Answers Academy that celebrates the babe in the manger whose mission was not to claim a throne of power but to conquer and free us from the bondage of sin, giving us new life in Christ!

Witness

On Saturday, December 13, 2025, join us in the Answers Center for Witness, presented by God’s Bible College & School.

Witness, written by Michael and Rachelle DeStefano, is an invitation to see Christ for who he is and trust him for what he will do. We find Mary, the mother of Jesus, at a wedding-in-crisis where she introduces her Son to those around her—not just as her Son, but as Messiah, God with us. We journey with her as she tells of his birth—of the miracles of angels and stars and prophecies fulfilled—and marvel with those hearing the story at the wonder of the incarnate Christ.

Experience All Christmas at the Ark Encounter Has to Offer

Not only will your family enjoy these aspects to Christmas at the Ark Encounter, you’ll also love seeing the grounds lit up in multicolored lights; enjoy a hearty, family-affordable, holiday buffet meal inside Emzara’s Buffet (open until 7:30 p.m.); shop for unique gifts; take a ride on our indoor carousel; learn about our animals in the Ararat Ridge Zoo; and so much more!

Continue Celebrating at the Creation Museum

Celebrate this special time of the year with a trip to Christmas at the Creation Museum as well! Tour the dazzling garden of lights, reflect on the true meaning of the season at our live nativity, take a walk through the Plants of the Bible Conservatory, enjoy a special holiday dinner, do some unique gift shopping, and more during this annual Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Christmas experience!

Start planning your Christmas visit to the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum today!

In a little over two weeks, we’ll start welcoming tens of thousands of visitors for our annual Christmas traditions—Christmas at the Ark Encounter and Christmas at the Creation Museum.

Our free Christmas events begin just after Thanksgiving (November 28, 2025–January 3, 2026, on select days).

Both attractions offer a different Christmas experience, so make plans to visit both the Ark and the museum to enjoy:

• Hundreds of thousands of festive lights
• A live nativity and Christ-centered dramas
• Live music
• Animal programs
• Laser show on the side of our life-size Noah’s Ark
• Holiday dining
• Gift shopping
• And more!

The lights aren’t just draped on trees—there’s a lot of design involved in how the lights (hundreds of thousands of them) are wrapped on trees and placed on buildings at both locations. The lights are spectacular with new designs added each year, so even if you’ve joined us for this special time of the year before, your experience is never the same!

Our Christmas events are free, except for the cost of parking. Bring the whole family! For more details, visit ArkEncounter.com/christmas.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Is Coming to the Ark!

And don’t forget—this winter, Narnia will take over the Answers Center, beginning December 29, 2025. We’re thrilled that a phenomenal live production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is coming to the Ark Encounter on select days through January 17, 2026.

Our friends over at Logos Theatre are once again bringing Narnia to life at the Ark with this production. We’ve hosted their production of Lewis’ The Horse and His Boy twice, and it received raving reviews; everyone was blown away by the production quality and the extremely lifelike puppetry. Logos Theatre has also brought The Pilgrim’s Progress to the Ark and received an equally enthusiastic response. The level of quality is just phenomenal.

It’s going to be an unforgettable experience for families! Don’t miss The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe this winter. Get your tickets now on our website.

Do young-earth creationists believe in the ice age? Of course!

Geological features like eskers, moraines, glacial erratics, and drumlins provide evidence of this part of earth’s history. However, the biblical-worldview model of this portion of history differs significantly from the predominant secular view.

For starters, secular models posit that there were multiple ice ages—the biblical model only sees evidence for one. Another huge difference is in the timescale. In the biblical model, this single ice age began soon after the global flood, a little over 4,000 years ago, and lasted a few hundred years. Secular models stretch the overall timeline for their proposed ice ages over hundreds of thousands of years.

How can we explain such disparities?

As with many other things, starting points matter. Both proponents of the biblical model and secular models have the same physical evidence to evaluate. But while secular models need long ages, the biblical model refutes them, and the event of a catastrophic global flood provides a perfect explanation for how the one ice age was triggered (and why more such ice ages haven’t occurred). And as seen with the recovery of the Lost Squadron, for example, there is much evidence to discount the reasoning behind multiple lengthy ice ages.

Learn more about the ice age and its link to the global flood on deck three of the Ark. Plan your visit today!

Few stories have captivated the imagination like C. S. Lewis’ classic allegory, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. We’re thrilled that a phenomenal live production of this story is coming to the Answers Center at the Ark Encounter on select days, December 29, 2025–January 17, 2026.

Our friends over at Logos Theatre are once again bringing Narnia to life at the Ark with this production. We’ve hosted their production of Lewis’ The Horse and His Boy twice, and it received raving reviews; everyone was blown away by the production quality and the extremely lifelike puppetry. Logos Theatre has also brought The Pilgrim’s Progress to the Ark and received an equally enthusiastic response. The level of quality is just phenomenal.

It’s going to be an unforgettable experience for families! Don’t miss The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe this winter. Get your tickets now on our website.

Finding Noah’s ark would be an incredible discovery. It was massive in scale, but despite all efforts to locate it, it has still not been found. And locating it after all this time would vindicate the saints and silence the skeptics. Why hasn’t it been found yet?

First, what about all the claims that Noah’s ark has been found? They surface from time to time and generate some buzz, but what has come of these claims? No claim has ever been found to be true. They have all been debunked after investigation as either fraudulent or have been deemed false upon further investigation. They have all been proven false, with many of the claims dismissed as fraudulent upon investigation.

There Are Good Reasons Why Noah’s Ark Has Not Been Found, and Likely Never Will.

Everything on earth was destroyed during the flood. There were no structures left standing, no forests or trees left. When Noah and his family left the ark, they had no shelter and no trees or resources to harvest outside of the ark. The ark would have provided incredible resources for them, so Noah and his sons likely dismantled and repurposed it as they began to rebuild their lives.

Wood also doesn’t hold up well over long periods of time. If Noah had left the ark intact, either fully or partially, it has still been over 4,000 years since the flood. When you think about barns that have been exposed to the elements for even 100 years, you can understand how a wooden structure, even one as large as the ark, would not have survived.

What questions do you have about this global, catastrophic event? Did you know that the ark didn’t land on Mount Ararat, but rather the mountains (plural) of Ararat (Genesis 8:4)? There is so much to learn and discover in God’s Word!

Get all your big questions about Noah’s Ark and the flood answered at the Ark Encounter. Plan your visit today!

Recent floods have reminded us all of the devastating effects they unleash on the communities they hit. But as horrific as they can be, they only give us a small taste of what went on during the global flood of Noah’s day—a dark period in history when the world and everything in it was destroyed except that which was contained inside the ark.

Today’s floods can destroy communities, leaving behind such overwhelming destruction and debris that it takes years to recover from. The floodwaters can last for weeks, the cleanup can take months, and the rebuilding can last years.

But the global flood was different.

In the account of the global flood and Noah’s ark, God marks the passage of time using Noah’s age, months of the year, and the length of days. When we add all of this information together, we learn that Noah and his family were aboard the ark for about one year.

Noah and his family had a lot of work to do while they were on the ark. They had a lot of animals to care for, along with themselves. Curious how many animals were on the ark, and how just eight people could care for all of them?

Learn more with a visit to the Ark Encounter. Plan your visit today!

A fascinating aspect of the Babel event described in Genesis 11 is the corroborating evidence we see in cultures and languages around the world.

For one, did you know that many cultures have ancient Babel-esque legends? Though these traditions don’t precisely match the biblical account, they are similar enough to signify the existence of a shared event experienced long ago before these cultures separated.

The architectural similarity in many ancient structures may also be a link to Babel. Although Scripture doesn’t give many details about the appearance of its famous tower, many think it was a ziggurat-style structure. If so, this could explain the similarities between the pyramids, earthen mounds, and ziggurats found around the world because those dispersing from Babel likely would have carried the memory of such an impressive architectural design with them.

Finally, linguistics also corroborates the separation of languages at Babel. Research indicates that the number of language families traces back to an amount comparable to the number of people groups identified in Genesis 10. This stands in stark contrast to what you’d expect to find if the evolutionary story were true.

So do these things prove the tower of Babel account? No—but they don’t need to. Because God’s Word is trustworthy, we can rest assured that the events of Genesis 11 did actually happen. However, they are powerful corroborating evidences that we can point to when skeptics attempt to relegate the early chapters of Scripture to mere mythology.

Learn more on Deck 3 of the Ark Encounter! Plan your visit at ArkEncounter.com/visit.

Día Latino at the Ark Encounter

At the Ark Encounter, we want to reach as many people as we can with the truth of God’s Word and the gospel. That’s why we host events like our upcoming Día Latino, coming to the Creation Museum on October 17, 2025, and October 18, 2025, at the Ark Encounter.

During this year’s Día Latino, we will explore the importance of establishing our families on the unshakable foundation, the rock of our salvation. Hear from Ken Ham, Joe Owen, and Dr. Josiah Grauman, and enjoy music from Nuevo Horizonte Church, Woodstock. We’re also offering a Family and the Gospel Workshop with Luis Ángeles of Living Waters Español.

Photo from a previous Día Latino event.

Visit the event page to learn more about this year’s event, and register today!

Creationists and evolutionists study the same evidence. We examine the same rocks, the same fossils, and the same world.

So why do we reach different conclusions about the same evidence? Our worldviews strongly influence our conclusions.

The evolutionary worldview looks at the rock layers around the world and interprets them as the result of slow and gradual processes over the course of millions and millions of years.

The biblical worldview looks at the same rock layers and sees overwhelming evidence that they were rapidly laid down during the yearlong global flood described in Genesis.

Which worldview makes better sense of the evidence?

Uniformitarianism: Buried During Millions of Years

According to the predominant scientific model, the layers of the geologic column represent hundreds of millions of years of slow and gradual processes. The fossils allegedly show that “simple” organisms progressively developed into more “complex” life forms over long periods of time.

Three problems exist:

• Where are all the transitional fossils?
• Why are there time gaps with no erosion between some layers of the column?
• Due to the repeated churning of soil by tiny organisms, a process known as bioturbation, gradual processes of depositing sediments would not permit distinct rock layers to form.

Catastrophism: Burial During the Year of the Flood

A creation-flood model explains that most of the fossil-bearing rock layers were deposited during the Genesis flood.

Organisms on the sea floor were buried first, followed by other marine animals and then land-dwelling creatures.

The order in which fossils appear in the record can generally be understood as a progression of burial according to the ecosystems in which the creatures lived in the pre-flood world. However, marine fossils are found throughout the record.

Start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter today, and be sure to check out our Flood Geology exhibit on the third deck to learn more about how our worldview shapes our perspective and find out what fossils can teach us about the global flood of Noah’s day.

Why would we put dinosaurs on our life-size Noah’s Ark? We often get this question at the Ark Encounter, so our social media team recently sat down with Dr. Tim Chaffey, speaker and manager of content, to answer it.

But what about dinosaurs like the T. rex? Wouldn’t they have just run around eating everything on the ark? No, they would not have!

Were the Largest Animals on the Ark?

Many ark illustrations show large creatures packed into a tiny, overloaded boat, but this image is inaccurate. The ark was much larger than commonly depicted, and many of the animals were probably smaller than expected.

It makes more sense to think that God would have sent Noah juveniles or smaller varieties within the same kind. In the case of dinosaurs, there may have been hundreds of species, but there were likely fewer than 85 kinds required on the ark. Many of them were smaller than bison, even as adults.

Consider the following advantages to bringing juveniles or smaller versions of a creature:

• They take up less space.
• They eat less.
• They create less waste.
• They are often easier to manage.
• They are generally more durable.
• Regarding juveniles, they would have more time to reproduce after the flood.

How Did Freshwater Fish Survive?

Skeptics often include marine animals in their attempts to show that the ark could not house the required number of animals. Obviously, marine animals were not required on the ark, but this raises an important question: how could freshwater fish survive the global flood?

Freshwater and saltwater do not necessarily mix together, so freshwater layers may have existed within the global flood, allowing the freshwater creatures to survive. Furthermore, since the oceans become saltier every year, the water during the flood would not have been as salty as it is today.

Many fish, such as salmon, striped bass, and Atlantic sturgeon, live in both freshwater and saltwater during their lifetimes. In most families of fish, there are both freshwater and saltwater varieties, which may imply that the original marine creatures were more capable of tolerating both types of water.

Start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter today, and learn more about what animals might have been included on Noah’s ark. There are also a variety of articles and resources on the Answers in Genesis website related to these topics and more to help you prepare for your Ark trip or dig deeper when you get home!

In just a few days, the world’s largest Christian music festival will kick off again at the Ark Encounter in Northern Kentucky—and the lineup is amazing! We have over 150 artists and speakers scheduled for 40 Days of Christian Music, taking place July 29–September 6, 2025.

One of those artists is Mathew West, who will perform at the Ark on August 30. He recently filmed a short video inviting you and your family to join us for this incredible event.

Crowder has been a popular artist during our past events and will take the Answers Center stage on September 6.

Yes, this is the largest such festival in the world, and it’s taking place at the largest freestanding timber-frame structure in the world and the leading Christian themed attraction in the world! In addition to Matthew West and Crowder, scheduled artists include:

• Big Daddy Weave
• Katy Nichole
• Jordan Feliz
• Charity Gayle
• Cochren & Company
• Triumphant
• Karen Peck & New River
• Gold City
• The Inspirations
• Brian Free & Assurance
• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
• The Isaacs
• The Hoppers
• And many more!

All Ark Encounter concerts are included with Ark admission (there are also concerts on select days at the Creation Museum, and those are included with museum admission). Get our Annual Bouncer Pass and come to as many (or all) of the concerts as you can—and visit both attractions all year long.

See a full schedule and all the details at 40DaysOfChristianMusic.com.

This week, we celebrated the ninth anniversary of the Ark Encounter, and we are so thankful for all the Lord has done since we opened to the public on July 7, 2016!

Catching sight of this engineering marvel from the shuttle bus shatters childhood notions of a cute little bathtub ark. Stretching 510 feet in length, 85 feet in width, and 51 feet in height, this Ark was built to biblical proportions—literally.

Noah’s ark is often depicted as a large, box-shaped vessel. This popular image has led many to believe that Noah’s ark must have been shaped like a long rectangular barge, but is that necessarily the case?

Dimensions, Not Shape

The Bible describes the ark’s dimensions, but simply knowing an object's maximum length, width, and height does not mean that we know its shape. For example, an object 10 inches long, wide, and tall can be a cube, a sphere, or even a pyramid.

Purpose, Not Shape

Like many other Hebrew nouns, the word translated as ark (teyvah) seems to convey its purpose rather than its shape. Outside of the flood account, teyvah is only used to describe the “ark of bulrushes” in which baby Moses was placed (Exodus 2:3, 5). Both of these arks were built to preserve life, possibly giving us a clue to the word’s meaning.

What Does Teyvah Mean?

Many Hebrew lexicons state that teyvah is likely derived from the Egyptian word for sarcophagus. If this is accurate, what would a sarcophagus, a container for the dead, have to do with preserving life? A reasonable solution is that ancient Egyptians believed a sarcophagus preserved a person for the afterlife.

Start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter today, and see our life-size Noah’s Ark for yourself!

A fascinating aspect of the Babel event described in Genesis 11 is the corroborating evidence we see in cultures and languages around the world.

For one, did you know that many cultures have ancient Babel-esque legends? Though these traditions don’t precisely match the biblical account, they are similar enough to signify the existence of a shared event experienced long ago, before these cultures separated.

The architectural similarity in many ancient structures may also be a link to Babel. Although Scripture doesn’t give many details about the appearance of its famous tower, many think it was a ziggurat-style structure. If so, this could explain the similarities between the pyramids, earthen mounds, and ziggurats found around the world because those dispersing from Babel likely would have carried the memory of such an impressive architectural design with them.

Finally, linguistics also corroborates the separation of languages at Babel. Research indicates the number of language families traces back to an amount comparable to the number of people groups identified in Genesis 10. This stands in stark contrast to what you’d expect to find if the evolutionary story were true.

So do these things prove the tower of Babel account? No—but they don’t need to. Because God’s Word is trustworthy, we can rest assured that the events of Genesis 11 did actually happen. However, they are powerful corroborating evidence that we can point to when skeptics attempt to relegate the early chapters of Scripture to mere mythology

New Event for the Portuguese-Speaking Community

We’re continuing to expand our outreach opportunities and are pleased to announce a new event to connect with the Portuguese-speaking community.

At Answers in Genesis for the Portuguese-Speaking World, guests will have the opportunity to tour the Creation Museum on October 10 and the Ark Encounter on October 11 and enjoy much of the attractions’ powerful content in Portuguese.

Attendees will also hear from AiG speakers on major issues affecting our culture. Dr. Gabriela Haynes will speak about scientific evidence supporting the biblical account of creation and about the issues with evolution. AiG International Outreach Director Joe Owen will address the topic of identity, bringing biblical clarity to the questions prompted by today’s culture.

This event will take place one week before our annual Día Latino event (October 17–18), which is designed for the Spanish-speaking community. We are excited for these opportunities to share the gospel and help Christians grow in the faith.

To learn more and register, visit our events page at AnswersInGenesis.org/events.

They escaped the flood but not eventual extinction.

When you visit the Ark Encounter for the first time, you might be surprised to find animals that you don’t recognize inside our life-size Noah’s Ark. That’s because our designers and artists put much time into researching the animals that are displayed inside the Ark. They examined fossil evidence and compared the various species within the kinds present today to determine the traits that may have been visible in the pairs onboard Noah’s ark.

Since guests encounter several now-extinct animals on the Ark, we repeatedly hear one question from guests: “What is that?” Our design team created identification signs for each pair of animals to help answer that question. Initially, these signs were not included because we wanted this part of the Ark to feel more like the original ark, and Noah probably did not have these on his cages.

But we quickly realized that our guests wanted to learn more about the animals that were included.

Introduction to Animal Kinds

The large open area on deck one offers the first glimpses of the Ark’s magnificent sculpted animals. Large cages line both sides of the hull. Cages on the port side contain familiar varieties, such as bears, sloths, deer, and pigs.

The enclosures on the starboard side contain animals that have gone extinct since the flood, such as pterosaurs and scutosaurs.

The cages feature signs with fun facts regarding their respective animal kinds. This area also contains large illustrated billboard signs to help guests understand which animals were required on the ark, including the now-extinct animals mentioned above. But the marine creatures were not onboard, and there was no need to bring large, full-grown adults of each kind.

Every animal fabricated for the Ark Encounter is a carefully crafted reconstruction based on studies of the fossil remains. While certain features of the Ark’s animals may seem unusual, most are still recognizable as members of their respective kinds.

In addition to the large billboard signs, several smaller signs address common questions about the ark. Visitors can learn how freshwater fish survived the flood, whether insects were required on the ark, if Noah brought seven or 14 animals of each flying creature and clean animal, how ark researchers determined the number of ark animals, and so much more.

Start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter today, and see which animals you might recognize and learn more about the ones you don’t!

Did you know the Ararat Ridge Zoo at the Ark Encounter is home to two giant African record-holders? Toward the main entrance of the zoo, guests will encounter a unique mixed-species habitat housing two female marabou storks, Nzuri (ZUR-ee) and Mrembo (REM-bo), and one male African spurred tortoise, Munch.

Nzuri and Mrembo

Marabou storks are the largest stork species alive today. Standing up to five feet tall (1.5 m) and weighing up to 20 pounds (9 kg), these impressive birds stalk the African savannas, looking for carrion to consume or easy prey to snatch. Although the stork kind would’ve been vegetarian in God’s original very good creation (Genesis 1:31), the disobedience of the first humans, Adam and Eve, cursed creation (Genesis 3). Now, the world is full of death, disease, pain, and suffering. God, in his infinite knowledge, designed animals to be scavengers in this fallen world, cleaning up carcasses so the planet is not overrun with dead bodies and disease.

Like vultures, marabou storks have mostly bald heads to stay cleaner while scavenging. They often follow vultures to carcasses and wait for them to tear them up with their hooked beaks before diving in with their foot-long, knife-like bills. Their bills can snap shut in 25 milliseconds, one of the fastest reactions of any vertebrate (animal with a backbone). Their bills are so massive that they must tuck their heads into their bodies when flying so their shoulders support their weight. They have reduced syrinxes (vocal organs in birds), so they cannot make much noise and instead communicate mostly through clattering those massive bills.

They also have pink gular (GOO-lar) sacs attached to their left nostrils that produce grunts or croaks, especially during breeding season.

They don’t always scavenge, though. Sometimes, they’ll hunt for easy prey and have been observed waiting at the edge of grass fires to catch creatures escaping. Marabou storks are sometimes called “undertaker birds” due to their sparse white head feathers, black cloak-like wings, and skinny white legs. Their legs are actually black but appear white because they defecate on them to cool off, a habit called urohidrosis (yur-oh-hy-DROH-sis).

Their wingspans have been verified up to nine feet (2.7 m) wide, but claims of wingspans up to 13 feet (4 m) wide have also been made. Their soft, white tail feathers were once used to trim hats, gowns, scarves, and even as fishing lures.

Marabou storks are quite intelligent and social and live in groups (called musters or phalanxes) of up to 150 birds. Because of their monogamy (males and females tend to stay together), faithfulness to nesting sites, and size, they are featured prominently in mythology. The name marabou comes from the Arabic term for a holy man, murabit, because they are considered holy.

Munch

African spurred tortoises are the largest species of mainland tortoise alive today. They may grow up to three feet (1 m) long and weigh up to 250 pounds (113.4 kg). They are exceeded in size only by the island-dwelling Galàpagos and Aldabra tortoises. African spurred tortoises are also among the longest-living land animals alive today, reaching ages well over 100 years.

Tortoises and turtles both belong to the same order, Testudines, and have thick shells that protect them from predators. Their shells are part of their skeletons, so they can’t come out of their shells, but they can feel through them. Despite this common characteristic, tortoises belong to a distinct created kind from the approximately one dozen kinds of turtles. Tortoises are land-based animals, while turtles usually dwell around water and are at least semiaquatic. Tortoises typically have heavy, large shells and thick, stumpy feet, while turtles often have lightweight, streamlined shells and webbed feet or flippers.

African spurred tortoises are named for the large, conical spurs on their thighs. They have excellent digging skills and will bury themselves in tunnels over 10 feet (3 m) deep to hide during the heat of the day.

Foraging for grasses, succulent plants, flowers, fruits, and occasional proteins occurs mostly at dawn and dusk. They can go several weeks without food or water and can then drink up to 15% of their body weight at once! Their thick skin also prevents water loss in the southern Sahara Desert and the Sahel of Africa, where they live.

African spurred tortoises are also known to “get excited” and run around before it rains. Males will fight each other over mates by ramming, vocalizing, and biting one another to establish dominance. Females can raise their shells off the ground and then drop them to make a thudding sound.

Munch (right) with his friend Orion (left), who is a Russian tortoise.

Sadly, these tortoises are endangered and are threatened by habitat loss, overhunting, wildfires, and the illegal exotic pet trade. In Africa, they are symbols of virtue, happiness, and longevity, so conservation efforts are underway to save this unique African reptile.

Meet Nzuri, Mrembo, and Munch!

Ark Encounter guests have the amazing opportunity to meet these African giants up close! Our Stork and Tortoise Behind-the-Scenes Experience is now available for purchase during the warm weather months at select times. Please note that this experience requires a separate paid ticket in addition to admission to the Ark Encounter.

During the Stork and Tortoise Experience, guests will enter the animals’ habitat to interact with them up close. Participants will first have the chance to feed our marabou storks and pose for photos with them. Don’t worry, although they may look formidable at first, Nzuri and Mrembo are quite friendly and eager to take snacks from you! The opportunity to interact with marabou storks may be unique to the Ararat Ridge Zoo.

Next, guests will meet Munch and give him snacks and shell scratches, all while taking memorable pictures. Zoo staff will be present to educate and answer questions the whole time, and the experience will conclude by receiving a special souvenir.

This program is available to guests ages six years and older (ages 6–17 must be accompanied by a paying adult). Please be aware that due to the design of the habitat and the animals involved, it is not ADA-accessible.

There are only six spots available per day, so interested guests should sign up quickly to avoid missing out! A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Samaritan’s Purse as they work to meet the needs of people in Africa, the native range of marabou storks and African spurred tortoises.

During your visit, be sure to check out all the other zoo animals since admission to the Ararat Ridge Zoo is included free with your Ark admission.