Guest Column: Bias against Creation Museum evident in PBS Documentary (VIDEO)

Last month, The Cincinnati Enquirer published an article entitled, “The battle between evolution and creation,” about the showing of a supposed “documentary” on PBS entitled “We Believe in Dinosaurs,” which had little to do with the battle between evolution and creation. It turned out to be an agenda-driven propaganda piece focusing on dinosaurs and the Ark Encounter, where dinosaurs represent only a tiny fraction of the exhibits at the Ark. This is not surprising, as many in the media continue to run stories that question the effectiveness of Answers in Genesis’ two popular attractions in Northern Kentucky.

In regard to this “documentary” on PBS, much of it is based on old information, as filming started in 2013. Originally, we were told by the producers that they were doing a documentary emphasizing the creative side of making museum exhibits and wanted to shadow our artists, exploring how science is presented at these types of museums. Despite assurances to the contrary, these deceitful producers created a biased film designed to sway viewers to a specific conclusion, which does not rise to the level of a real documentary, presenting many misrepresentations and errors. 

In December 2016, controversial filmmaker Morgan Spurlock took over the project and helped fund it, taking it in a new and mocking direction. Subsequently, we revoked their media access and declined any future interviews, once we knew the film project was now going in this very different and misleading direction.

In regard to the film’s focus on Williamstown, the producers used clever camera angles and selectively-edited interviews to portray the false idea that the Ark has had no significant economic impact in the community and in fact is detrimental to Williamstown. We would be thrilled to see a major economic impact for the town, but the producers fail to report that town’s central business area is on the opposite side of the interstate from the Ark Encounter, half a mile from that interstate, and currently has no major hotels or restaurants. 

Media need only to contact the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau, or the Grant County Chamber of Commerce to learn of the phenomenal economic impact generated by tourism to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. This has been seen from Dry Ridge, just north of the Ark Encounter, all the way up to the Ohio River, with several new hotels in Florence opening to cater to Ark guests. In fact, Northern Kentucky has become the biggest faith-based tourist destination in the USA because of the Ark and Creation Museum.

Finally, we must point out once again that the Ark Encounter did not receive millions of dollars in tax incentives (or tax breaks) to build the attraction. Instead, the Ark Encounter, like other tourist attractions in the state, was approved to receive (as was legally confirmed by a federal court decision) a rebate of sales tax generated at the attraction after it opened. This rebate of new money generated at the Ark (over 90% of guests are from out of state) is only a fraction of all the Ark-related revenue the state receives because of the economic impact this attraction has had on area hotels, restaurants, stores, etc. It’s a huge net gain for the Kentucky state treasury.

This is a reminder that those who oppose the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum often take selected pieces of information and weave a false story for their propaganda purposes. We encourage audiences to be discerning in their viewing, and to discover the truth about the purported “facts” presented onscreen.

Ken Ham is the CEO of Answers in Genesis, an apologetics organization which operates the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY, and the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY.

Click on the video link below of drone footage of the Ark Encounter and of the ribbon-cutting of the museum in 2016.