The Bible Museum, Houston
August 2023
The small pinkish building is tucked away on a quiet side street near the Texas County Courthouse in Houston. A second glance reveals the name under the porch eaves: The Bible Museum. The front door stands open in welcome, and there’s a key in the lock with a tiny Holy Bible dangling on the key chain.
Take the time for a stop to visit an unexpected treasure trove and experience a generous helping of hospitality from Brenda Christensen or one of the other local volunteers who help operate The Bible Museum for its founder, Pastor Terry Snelling, a Houston native.
Brenda smiles when I notice the Bible keychain, and says, “Jesus is knocking at the door.”
She is happy to answer questions—or to let visitors wander in silence. However, it is difficult to remain silent when looking at some of the displays, such as the dozens of teeny-tiny Bibles that require magnification to see the type. Those elicit exclamations of wonder.
The museum contents are part of Snelling’s personal collection of Bibles and related items that he has assembled over the years from around the world. In addition to the miniature Bibles, most from the 1800s, there are large-print volumes, braille versions and editions printed in German, Spanish, Danish, Chinese and Japanese. There’s even a Bible on 8-track tape. One of the oldest items is a framed, authenticated page from a 1589 Bible. Bible-themed jewelry includes a belt buckle, necklace and ring.
Vintage musical instruments are scattered throughout the displays and Bible quotations are stenciled on the walls. There are also photos showing the evolution of the museum from a rundown building with caved-in ceiling to the large display room packed with religious items.
The museum is surrounded by a peaceful garden with walkways, benches and inspirational quotations. Volunteers maintain the garden, which is always open to visitors.
When the not-for-profit museum opened on Easter Sunday 2017, it was the fulfillment of a dream that Snelling had held for more than 45 years. Snelling has a degree in theology and has been the pastor of a rural church in Tyrone, shared God’s word on a television show in West Plains and a radio station in Salem and worked with inmates at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking.
The Bible Museum is located at 219 Second Street at the corner of Second and Walnut streets. It is open 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, from Easter Sunday to late September or mid-October, depending on the weather. (The building is not air conditioned or heated.) Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.