Huge numbers of construction workers are laboring to finish the $500 million ‘Museum Of The Bible’ set to open in Washington D.C. later this year. The eight-story, 430,000-square-foot project, is set to open in November 2017. “Right now, the construction is on schedule, the exhibits are all on schedule. … We feel very good about our progress,” said museum Executive Director Tony Zeiss, according to NWA Online.

“There’s never been a museum of this size, a world stage museum developed for the Bible, so we’re making history here,” Zeiss said. But the goal is to educate, not evangelize, the organizers point out. “We are not advocates for any religion or any ministry or any doctrine. We simply are advocates for the Book and we present the Book to all people,” Zeiss said. “Think about it, no other book has had such an impact, certainly on Western civilization, if not the world, than the Bible.”

 

“We focus on the history of the Bible; the narrative of the Bible — the stories; and the impact of the Bible,” museum spokesman Jeremy Burton said. Each guest will be handed a tablet to help them navigate the eight floors, one of which will contain plants from Israel. There will be ancient documents with an array of experts to help visitors dissect them.

“I think it’s phenomenal,” music festival director Thomas said after seeoing the site. “It’s going to take me days to go through it, but I can’t wait.”

Check out the 360-degree tour here.