The Creation Museum, which teaches life's beginnings through a literal interpretation of the Bible, is claiming attendance figures that would make it an unexpectedly strong draw less than a year and a half after it debuted. More than a half-million people have toured the northern Kentucky attraction, a 30-minute drive south of Cincinnati, since its May 2007 opening, museum officials said.
For creationists - Christians who believe the Bible's first chapter of Genesis is the literal telling of the universe's start - the museum is a godsend. Many have returned with family and friends, some from faraway states arguing it's one of the few with a Christian worldview.
Many scientists say they fear damaging effects on science education when young people tour the museum and fail to square its lessons with what they're learning in school. One display shows humans coexisting with dinosaurs - despite the two species being separated by 65 million years in most science texts.
''We're depressed, I think,'' said Dan Phelps, head of the Kentucky Paleontology Society, who toured the museum shortly after its opening. ''There's been such a push in recent years to improve science education, but stuff like this still hangs around.''
The Creation Museum doesn't draw nearly as many visitors as the nation's top science museums, which boast larger facilities and government funding. The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington attracted 5.8 million visitors in 2006; the Children's Museum in Indianapolis brought in 1.2 million that year, according to a list compiled by Forbes magazine.
But for its size and budget - it took $27 million in private donations to build - the museum has been an overwhelming success, founder Ken Ham said.
Inside, evolution is replaced with the Old Testament stories of Adam and Eve as the first humans.
- The Associated Press
Top 25: Emerging destinations where the dollar goes far
1. Mazatlan, Mexico
2. Pranburi, Thailand
3. Marquesas, South Pacific
4. Andaman Islands, India
5. Boracay, Philippines
6. Borneo, Indonesia
7. Con Dao, Vietnam
8. Sumbawa Island, Indonesia
9. Port Vila, Vanuatu
10. Port Willulnga, South Australia
11. Waiheke Island, New Zealand
12. Paphos and Limassol, Cyprus
13. Alacati, Turkey
14. Gozo, Malta
15. Sozopol, Bulgaria
16. Lamu, Kenya
17. Larache, Morocco
18. Musandam Peninsula, Oman
19. Sao Miguel Dos Milagres, Brazil
20. Big Corn Island, Nicaragua
21. Campeche, Mexico
22. Caye Caulkes, Belize
23. Culebra, Puerto Rico
24. Isabela Island, Galapagos
25. Zapallar, Chile
ON THE WEB
Plan affordable family getaways
The family travel site www.wejustgotback.com recently launched a new blog to help busy parents plan affordable family getaways. The blog is called Need to Know and features family travel deals, special promotions and news about kid-friendly hotels, family-friendly museum exhibitions and travel gear. The main Web site, which launched in 2006, offers expert advice and reader-contributed comments and tips.
TRAVEL GEAR
Checkpoint-friendly laptop bags
Since getting through airport security with a laptop has become a hassle, Staples is offering three new airport security checkpoint-friendly laptop bags. They include Samsonite's Checkmate Business and Casual Laptop bags ($79.95); Pathfinder's Wheeled Echpoint Friendly CompuBrief ($149.99); and the Targus Zip-Thru Air Traveler ($79.95). All are designed to give screeners easy access to laptops.
TRAVEL READING
With Hope Across America: A Father-Daughter Journey
By Bob Braithwaite, 260-page paperback, $19.95, iUniverse
Travel writers as diverse as John Steinbeck, Jack Kerouac and William Least Heat Moon have written eloquently about their journeys across America. This book by Cedar City author Robert Braithwaite details a two-generation, two-journal look at America by Braithwaite and his 10-year-old daughter Hope. Chapters on America's Heartland, and its East, South and West regions, include such subheads as "Interview with a Stuffed Animal," "Made in the USA: Hope at the John Adams House," and "Radio Dad: Hope at the Plains, Ga., B&B." This should be a fun read for fathers and daughters, or anyone who enjoys a good travel story about discovering both a relationship and a country at the same time.
TRAVEL ART
National Portrait Gallery announces exhibitions
The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery has announced its upcoming schedule."Women of Our Time: Twentieth Century Photographs" just opened and will run through Feb. 1. "Tokens of Affection and Regard: Photographic Jewelry and Its Makers" opens Oct. 24 and runs through June 21. "One Life: The Mask of Lincoln," runs Nov. 7 through July 5. "Portraiture Now: Feature Photography" runs Dec. 5 through May 10. "Presidents in Waiting" opens Jan. 20 and runs through Jan. 3, 2010. For information on these and other upcoming exhibits, log on to www.npg.si.edu.
CURRENCY CHART
What your dollar buys
Rates paid domestically for each dollar changed. These figures are intended only as a guide. Rates may be more favorable abroad. (As of Oct. 15)
Argentina (peso) 3.2
Australia (dollar) 1.5
Brazil (real) 2.1
Canada (dollar) 1.2
Chile (peso) 627
China (yuan) ... 6.8
Denmark (krone) 5.5
Egypt (pound) 5.5
European (euro) 0.74
(Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain)
Great Britain (pound) 0.58
Hong Kong (dollar) 7.8
India (rupee) 49
Indonesia (rupiah) 9,975
Israel (shekel) 3.7
Japan (yen) 100
Mexico (peso) 13.1
New Zealand (dollar) 1.6
Norway (krone) 6.4
Philippines (peso) 48
Poland (zloty) 2.6
Russia (ruble) 26.2
Singapore (dollar) 1.5
South Africa (rand) 10.5
South Korea (won) 1,237
Sweden (krona) 7.4
Switzerland (franc) 1.1
Taiwan (dollar) 32
Thailand (baht) 34
Venezuela (bolivar) 2,147.5
Source: Yahoo! Finance
