Museum of Earth History Opens at The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

[bgroman]

Dinosaurs dazzled visitors at the Museum of Earth History when it opened its doors on Tuesday, April 26, 2005, launching its first season at The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

A rare collection of dinosaur fossils fueled the excitement of The Great Passion Play’s audience as visitors traveled through the unique exhibit that focuses on the earth’s early history. Featuring over 14 life-sized skeletons, skulls, and fossil plates, the museum provides an exciting new attraction for people from all walks of life, from scientists to school children.

The museum relays the Biblical story of beginnings in a three-part series of breathtaking scenes. Beginning with the creation story in Genesis and continuing through the flood to the Tower of Babel and global ice age, each section of the exhibit features dinosaur fossils presented in stunning settings with original murals. The exhibits provide a unique blend of religion, history, and science for viewers.

Displays in the museum include the easily recognizable T-rex, Triceratops, and Mastodon, as well as extremely rare specimens, such as the Thescelosaurus and Dromeosaurus. Ancient marine creatures also join an impressive aquarium display as part of the exhibit.

All of the skeletons in the museum are research replicas, highly detailed casts of the original fossils. These replicas are the same as those found in major museums around the world, including the Smithsonian, and are so accurate that scientists and universities use them to study the animals.

The museum is the latest addition to The Great Passion Play's complex of Biblically based attractions. It is one of three museums on the grounds, and provides another dimension to The Great Passion Play experience. Along with the on-site museums, The Great Passion Play presents other unique attractions, including the New Holy Land Tour (a 2 hour interactive tour where storytellers accurately recreate Biblical stories and personalities at 35 different exhibits) and the Christ of the Ozarks (the largest Christ memorial statue in the United States). With a cast of hundreds and a variety of live animals, The Great Passion Play has been a favorite destination for travelers from around the world for over 36 years and has hosted over 7 million visitors. The Institute of Outdoor Drama has named The Great Passion Play "America's #1 Attended Outdoor Drama".

The Great Passion Play opens its season on Friday, April 29, 2005. Performances are on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:30 PM (7:30 PM after Labor Day). The Museum of Earth History is open from 9:00 AM to 8:00 (7:00 PM after Labor Day) on the same days as The Great Passion Play is performed.

For more information, schedules, and ticket information, visit http://www.greatpassionplay.com/ or call 1-800-882-7529. Additional information on the Museum of Earth History is also available at http://www.moeh.org/

-Press Release