Dive Brief:
- The Green family, owners of the Hobby Lobby arts and craft retail chain, plans to build a museum dedicated to the Bible in Washington, DC.
- The evangelical family says that the museum will occupy half a block on a street two blocks south of the National Mall, home to national museums like the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. It will showcase rare Torahs and historic Bibles, among other artifacts.
- The estimated $800 million venture is scheduled to open in 2017, and has yet to be named.
Dive Insight
The Green family has never been quiet about their religious values, infusing a Christian identity into Hobby Lobby's culture by closing on Sundays. And in a historical move, the company's leaders challenged a healthcare mandate that family-owned businesses provide contraception coverage to their employees, claiming that it violated their religious beliefs.
Although this museum has little to do with Hobby Lobby's business, supporting a cause that can be seen as unfavorable to some has proved tricky in the past. But if the Green family can keep the museum opening separate from its business ventures, perhaps they can avoid issue.