The Dead Sea Scroll Exhibition with the Oldest Biblical Texts Arrives at Museum of the Bible in November 2025

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Museum of the Bible, in partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority and Running Subway, is honored to announce it will host "Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition," opening November 22, 2025. The exhibition, created by curators Navit Popovich-Geller, Risa Levitt and Joe Uziel, will feature Dead Sea Scroll fragments found in the caves of Qumran, as well as hundreds of artifacts that reveal details about life and Judaism during the Second Temple period.

"The exhibition provides an extraordinary window into the life and faith of ancient Israel, Jewish faith practices and the early Christian church," said Dr. Carlos Campo, CEO of Museum of the Bible. "Visitors will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore scroll fragments and historic artifacts that prove the integrity of Scripture over centuries."

The exhibition will feature three rotations of scroll fragments:

• November 2025 to February 2026: Genesis, Job, Psalms, Astronomical Enoch, Barkhi Nafshi, War Scroll, Eschatological Commentary and the Temple Scroll
• February to May 2026: Great Psalms Scroll, Numbers, Lamentations, Community Rule, Apocryphal Psalms, Purities, Non-Canonical Psalms and the Book of the Giants
• May to September 2026: Isaiah, Tobit, Phylacteries, Birth of Noah, Jubilees, Communal Ceremony, Community Rule and the Damascus Document

Other principal items in the exhibition include the Magdala Stone, discovered in 2009 at a first-century CE synagogue from the time and place where Jesus ministered in the region of Galilee (Mark 1:39). Another remarkable piece of history featured in the exhibition is wood fragments of a first-century CE fishing boat (also referred to as "the Jesus Boat") uncovered in the Sea of Galilee during a drought in 1986, giving insight into how boats mentioned in the New Testament may have looked.

"This exhibition is made possible by our close partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority. It brings together some of the most important archaeological discoveries in human history," said Dr. Bobby Duke, chief curatorial officer at Museum of the Bible. "It is an incredibly rare and unique opportunity to see the oldest copies of biblical fragments alongside many more artifacts that help us to better understand the biblical world."

The immersive exhibition, located on floor 5, will contain more than 200 artifacts from Israel's National Treasures of the Israel Antiquities Authority. It also includes finds from the Pilgrim Road that led to the temple, ostraca from Masada, a scroll wrapper from Qumran, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The exhibition shares insights into the development of scientific methods and how they revealed secrets hidden in these artifacts and are presented using digital displays and historical images documenting the different stages of work. The biblical texts and artifacts are unique to the Holy Land, and Museum of the Bible will be the only location on the East Coast of the United States where you can see them in person.

"The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls moved back the oldest biblical references over 1,000 years. They have revolutionized biblical scholarship by providing a glimpse into how the Bible was understood and practiced centuries before the common era," said Dr. Orit Shamir from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

"We are honored to bring the 75^th anniversary tour of the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Museum of the Bible," says James Sanna, president and CEO of Running Subway Productions. "Museum of the Bible is known for hosting historically significant exhibitions and this one, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the ancient world, continues that tradition. We know guests will be inspired by the scrolls and the other notable artifacts on display."

In addition to the exhibition, educational programs will be available to provide opportunities for deeper engagement with the history, culture and faith traditions reflected in the scrolls and artifacts. Museum of the Bible will also have opportunities for children to explore the story of the Dead Sea Scrolls in an interactive scavenger hunt throughout the museum.

Exhibition tickets are on sale now for $14.99, in addition to regular museum admission. For more information, visit museumofthebible.org/exhibits/dead-sea-scrolls-the-exhibition.

About Museum of the Bible
Museum of the Bible is an apolitical, non-sectarian organization that invites all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible. Located just three blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the stunning 430,000-square-foot museum showcases rare and fascinating artifacts spanning 4,000 years of history and immersive experiences exploring the Bible. In addition to its educational programs, exhibits and experiences, Museum of the Bible hosts the beautiful 480-seat World Stage Theater. To learn more, visit museumoftheBible.org.

About the Israel Antiquities Authority
The Israel Antiquities Authority is Israel's national authority responsible for the preservation, research, and public accessibility of the country's archaeological treasures. Its headquarters are located at The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem. The Authority oversees more than 300 archaeological excavations and 240 conservation projects (preservation and restoration of archaeological sites) each year.

SOURCE Museum of the Bible