What Audiences Think of the Creation Museum

Preceding chapters largely draw upon data collected on-site to examine internally why the Creation Museum emerged and how it operates. But what does it do for the movement? Who pays attention to the Creation Museum? Tracing perspectives of various audiences outside of the movement provides an external vantage point necessary for determining the extent to which AiG’s efforts have an impact. Analyzing news media coverage of and social media attention to the Creation Museum, this chapter shows the museum attracted attention because of its ability to draw together temporarily bombastic mobilization efforts with its non-disruptive character. It is a building, open every day, hosting large numbers of people and events. Conflict occurs on-site, like counter-demonstrators, rather than in the streets and additional movement efforts are grounded in the place itself. Media attention suggests that AiG and its Creation Museum have already succeeded: so many other social movement organization’s tactics never receive coverage let alone sustain it.