William Wright
Banner Staff Writer
Sunday, Sep 13, 2009

Having the Holy Bible come to life through artifacts from ancient times and discovering how Cleveland’s own past relates to a collection of Biblical antiquities and anthropological items will be featured at the Museum Center at Five Points.
Treasures of the Holy Land: Cleveland’s First Museum opens Sept. 26 through Jan. 31, 2010, at the Museum Center in one of the most highly anticipated collections ever assembled for the museum.
In January 1944, Frank and Barbara Bowen donated their Biblical collection of ancient artifacts and anthropological items to Bob Jones College which was located in Cleveland. The treasures were the result of their six visits to the Holy Land in the 1930s.
Most local residents never knew or heard about the Bowen Biblical Museum in Cleveland because it was only in existence a short time while Bob Jones College was in Cleveland from 1933 to 1947. When Bob Jones College left the area, the Bowen Biblical Museum left with it.
“We’re bringing back Cleveland’s first museum that was on the campus of Bob Jones College when it was here on Lee University’s campus in the late 1940s,” said Museum Director Lisa Lutts.
“It was here for four years before Bob Jones moved to Greenville, S.C. This is great because it’s all Biblical antiquities and so many people in Cleveland are religious.
“We thought this would really resonate with the population to be able to see all of the items that relate to the Old and New Testament but also to the Jewish religion because Jesus, as we know, was Jewish.”
According to Lutts, one of the goals of the Bowens was to make the Bible come to life through their historical artifacts while teaching the Word of God.
“They brought every single object with that in mind,” she said, pointing to the example of an ancient foot lamp that was referenced in Psalm 119:105 and will be on display when Treasures of the Holy Land opens.
“When Barbara and Frank Bowen brought things related to the Bible, they often did it to illustrate a Bible verse,” she said. “Even if you’re not interested from that viewpoint you can approach it from an archaeological and anthropological standpoint. It just depends on what you’re interested in.”
A series of education programs that will include talks by archaeologists and anthropologists as well as a hands-on archaeology program for children will also be featured at the museum to enhance the exhibit.
Lutts describes the event as “huge” in that Cleveland’s first museum with its Biblical theme will be viewed by a new generation of Clevelanders as well as thousands who never knew or didn’t get a chance to see Cleveland’s first museum years before the Museum Center opened.
“This is the history of Cleveland, it’s the history of these objects and it’s the history of this couple who took the time to put this museum together. We’re encouraging everyone to attend,” said Lutts.
The Museum Center has borrowed 55 objects that were in the Bowen Biblical Museum to give local residents a taste of what the city’s first museum looked like.
Dr. Robert Wright, the Bowen’s nephew, helped with the family history, scanning original photos and news clippings that will be on display.
Groups of 20 or more can book a tour at a discounted rate of $4 per person and get a special guided tour of the exhibit. Tours may be booked two-weeks in advance.
For youth tours, contact Julie Vance at 339-5745 or by e-mail at julie@museumcenter.org.
For adult tours contact Tracy O’Connell at 339-5745; or by e-mail at giftshop@museumcenter. org.