Who would guess that The Louvre in Paris, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and a 3-acre archaeological museum in the small city of LaGrange GA would have something truly significant in common? The Israel Antiquities Authority has entrusted only seven museums in the world to house some of its ancient artifacts, and the three mentioned above are among those seven.

Dr. Jim Fleming is the CEO and Founder of the Biblical History Center. He has lived and worked in Israel since 1973. He has coordinated 12 archeological excursions in Israel, has been a Professor of Geography and Archeology, has taught both Jewish and Arab tour guides about Christianity for the Israeli and Palestinian tourism representatives in Jerusalem, and Dr. Fleming established Biblical Resources specifically for developing teaching materials about the history, geography and archaeology of the Bible. Dr. Fleming KNOWS what he’s talking about, and he’s passionate about making the Bible and its setting come alive to others.

Hebrews 4:12 “ For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The stated goal of the Biblical History Center in LaGrange is “to help people understand the Bible and the ancient world in its historical and cultural context. We do this by providing exact replicas of ancient life settings coupled with cutting-edge teaching based on the most up-to-date evidence and information in the fields of archaeology and biblical scholarship.”

The Center is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. but is closed for normal U.S. holidays. There are guided tours of the Archaeological Replica Garden and self-guided tours of 250 rare artifacts in the gallery. Special emphasis tours occur during Easter and Christmas seasons. Reservations can be made to partake in a Biblical meal, a shepherd’s bread making activity, a kid’s archaeological dig or for certain conferences and lectures. Check the website for the event calendar and pricing.

And there is a very nice gift shop with books and many items from countries of the Middle East.

Nativity set in the Gift Shop.

Jewish items in the Gift Shop.

On a recent visit to LaGrange, I was introduced to this wonderful place and enjoyed a tour and a Passover meal. I LOVED it! The tour guide said several times during the presentation, “Doesn’t that just make the Bible passage come to life for you?” He was right. It did. The guides wear biblical costumes and are very well-trained. I cannot recommend this highly enough. It was a complete surprise to me. I had never heard of it, but now I want to go back and take others with me. It reminded me so much of the song, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked” by Geoffrey O’Hara.

Sharing the Passover Meal.

Passover Meal.

I have never visited the Holy Land. Perhaps someday I will. In the meantime, this is a great alternative.

BIBLICAL HISTORY CENTER “An Archaeological Museum Exploring Daily Life in Ancient Times”

130 Gordon Commercial Drive, LaGrange, GA 30240

706-885-0363