A Cincinnati family has given $1 million — the largest single donation yet — to the future Creation Museum and Family Discovery Center in Boone County.

        Answers in Genesis, the Bible-based ministry that's developing the museum, made the announcement Friday.

        “We've still got a ways to go, but this is a big boost,” said Mark Looy, a ministry spokesman.

        Organizers say the family wants to remain anonymous, honoring a biblical passage (“Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them.” — Matthew 6:1).

        “They came to us,” Mr. Looy said. “It's one of those unusual circumstances.”

        The family, which has never visited the ministry in Florence, had been on the mailing list a long time.

        “They have a passion for proclaiming biblical truth,” Mr. Looy said. “That's what they conveyed to me.”

        Combined with other donations, the ministry has raised more than $3 million toward its $14 million goal.

        “We're now on target for a summer 2002 opening, which will be the first phase of the museum,” Mr. Looy said.

        The funds will be used to order materials, hire contractors and prepare for a March 17 groundbreaking.

        “For the past six weeks, many of God's people throughout America — and even overseas — have caught the importance of this future international outreach near Cincinnati,” said Ken Ham, the ministry's executive director.

        Mr. Ham has been working on the story line of the 50,000-square-foot museum, to be built along with a 45,000-square-foot ministry headquarters.

        The museum will present what organizers say is the simple, factual account of the history of the world as described in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament. Inside will be life-sized replicas of dinosaurs, a DNA exhibit, fossils and interactive exhibits.

        The Christian ministry promotes the truth and reliability of the Bible beginning from the first verse of Genesis.

        In the museum, visitors will likely walk through the chronological history first and then wander into distinct wings that will emphasize certain fields of science, such as astronomy, biology and archaeology.

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