A $60 million “religion and liberty” museum launched by the American Bible Society in Philadelphia in the course of the pandemic is closing.
The 25,000-square-foot Religion and Liberty Discovery Heart, which opened in 2021 as a museum to discover the position of the Bible and religion in American historical past, introduced in an e-mail to workers on March 13 that it was closing. The museum has gained awards and obtained rave opinions, nevertheless it hasn't gained the foot visitors followers they'd hoped. In 2021, the American Bible Society mentioned the museum might welcome 225,000 guests annually to discover “the profound affect of the Bible on our nation.”
It was constructed on a prestigious website overlooking Independence Corridor, the birthplace of the nation, and was known as “Philadelphia's most opulent museum.”
“The FLDC, as conceived, was a splendidly modern concept,” Jennifer Holloran, president of the American Bible Society, advised workers in an e-mail. Faith Information Service cited the e-mail and mentioned it was obtained by Ministry Watch. “This concept got here with nice prospects and necessities to be purposeful in the long run. Sadly, regardless of the valiant efforts of our management and the FLDC crew, now we have not been in a position to obtain the long-term sustainability that such an expertise must succeed.”
Spokesman mentioned it The Philadelphia Enquirer that the pandemic and “structural constraints” helped result in the closure.
“It has been an honor to serve the Religion and Liberty Discovery Heart and witness the numerous methods it has fueled inspiration, engagement and private discovery within the coronary heart of Independence Mall through the years,” mentioned Rob Wonderling, Govt Director of Religion and Liberty. Liberty Discovery Heart.
The middle celebrated its full grand opening in the summertime of 2021 after the Metropolis of Philadelphia lifted its COVID-19 restrictions. Robert L. Briggs, then president of the American Bible Society, mentioned in 2021 that the middle invited guests to “rediscover the Bible's distinctive position within the American story.” The museum featured “25,000 sq. ft of interactive gallery house with groundbreaking expertise,” based on a press launch. It had the assist of Mart Inexperienced of the Interest Foyer Inexperienced household.
“We’re excited to see the Religion and Liberty Discovery Heart come to life. Our household has supported this historic effort since its inception as a result of we imagine within the heart's mission to teach our nation concerning the significance of the Bible's affect,” Inexperienced mentioned in 2021. “We hope that as individuals study extra concerning the Bible's highly effective affect on people all through American historical past, they are going to be impressed to learn it themselves.”
It is going to be open to guests till March 28, the Inquirer reported.
Picture credit score: Fb / FaithandLibertyDiscoveryCenter
Michael Foust has coated the intersection of religion and information for 20 years. His tales have appeared within the Baptist Press, Christianity Right this moment, Christian PoHoly, and Leaf chronicle, and Toronto Star and and Knoxville Information-Sentinel.
