Over the last few years the most famous wooden boat in the Bible has seen a rise in popularity. From the release of the 2014 blockbuster movie "Noah" starring Russell Crowe, to the opening of a Kentucky theme park featuring a 510-foot recreation, builders at multiple points around the world have been building versions of the vessel.
Dutch carpenter Johan Huibers recently made the news when one of his replicas, built from Swedish pine, crashed into a Norwegian Coast Guard boat in the Oslo Harbor, ripping a hold in the side of the ship. Huibers told the New York Times he was "devastated...I have to go to Norway with wood, nails and a hammer to repair it.”
His larger boat, which is 410 feet long, 95 feet wide and 75 feet tall and weighs 2,500 tons, is still scheduled for a trans-Atlantic crossing this summer, from The Netherlands to Fortaleza, Brazil, for the 2016 Olympic Games and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Paralympic summer games.
Former President Jimmy Carter tours the Ark Encounter
Around the same day Huiber's Noah's Ark replica was headed for misadventure in the Oslo Harbor, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and a host of Amish craftsmen, were touring the Ark Encounter theme park, with the Ark as its centerpiece, in Williamstown, Kentucky. The 510-foot long life-size recreation is set to open July 7.
According to reports, President Carter praised the quality of the work, and shared his impressions of the project that his architect friend Troyer designed and built it. “The Ark is remarkable. And it’s some of the best woodworking I’ve ever seen. My friend LeRoy Troyer has done a tremendous job,” he said.
In addition to the Ark structure, the first phase of the Ark Encounter to open, includes Ararat Ridge Zoo (with a petting zoo), a 1,500-seat restaurant, a gift store under the Ark, and a zip line course that will eventually run a total of nine miles.
Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.