“Coronavirus has brought our world to a standstill, so our team has worked hard so guests from around the world can engage virtually with the Bible and the museum’s collection,” says Jeffrey Kloha, Chief Curatorial Officer at Museum of the Bible. “Our new online content is designed to help people navigate these challenging times by sharing stories, creating a platform for people to share biblical passages of hope and comfort, and supporting at-home learning with virtual activities for kids and adults.”

Museum of the Bible staff continue to evaluate federal and local guidelines as plans to reopen the museum are formulated. The museum’s entire staff, including hourly employees, have continued to be compensated during the coronavirus shutdown and temporary closure.

The Museum of the Bible’s virtual content includes:

Lonesome Curator 
With no visitors in the museum, the curators have gotten a bit lonesome. This video series provides a behind-the-scenes look at what the curators are up to while the museum is closed. Lonesome Curator episodes are generally 10 minutes long or less and highlight one of the museum’s unique artifacts, exhibits or historical figures.

Words Of Hope Campaign
In this time of uncertainty, the museum wants to encourage others through Scripture and asks its visitors to do the same. To participate in the Words of Hope Campaign, visitors need to follow just three steps:

1. Select a Bible verse that has personal meaning.
2. Take a picture of the verse, put the verse in a video or create artwork that includes the verse.
3. Post the verse or artistic creation on social media using the hashtag #WordsOfHope.

Storytime for Kids
Every Tuesday at 1 p.m. EST, the museum hosts Storytime for Kids on Facebook Live to share Bible stories with young children. Each Storytime segment features a costumed Living History Interpreter who tells a story — such as Noah and the Ark, Jonah and the Big Fish or David and Goliath — in a way that kids can understand. Printable coloring pages accompanying the day’s story are also available. Kids are invited to share their colorful creations online by having an adult take a photo of their work and posting it on social media using the hashtags #StorytimeatMOTB and #MuseumFromHome.

Book Minute
Visitors can sign up for a daily Book Minute email, which includes a one-minute interpretive video that discusses the history, narrative and impact of the Bible in an engaging and informative way.

Museum of the Bible Podcast
The museum hosts the Museum of the Bible Podcast once a week in which guest speakers and scholars discuss a variety of topics relating to the history and impact of the Bible. The podcast is available for free on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play and iHeartRadio.

For more information on Museum of the Bible, click here.