God's Ark of Safety
God's Ark of Safety is a non-denominational Christian ministry in Frostburg, Maryland, United States, led by Pastor Everett Spence.[1] On Easter, 1976, former Pastor Richard Greene began building a replica of Noah's Ark atop a prominent hillside along what is now Interstate 68 featuring a sign that announces to passing travelers: "Noah's Ark Being Rebuilt Here!"[2] Ground was broken for the ark in September 1976 with over 3,000 tons of concrete. The foundation and earthwork were built to biblical proportions, around 450 by 75 by 45 feet, which is about one and a half football fields long.[3]
As of 2023, the structure is still just a frame.
The Ark is featured on the front cover and chapter 4 of Timothy Beal's book Roadside Religion: In Search of the Sacred, the Strange, and the Substance of Faith. In the book Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Frostburg writer Brad Barkley, there is a reference to the Ark in the pre-chapter section listing places that one should see when traveling across the country. It is also mentioned in Barkley's story "The Way It's Lasted."
References
- "God's Ark of Safety – our pastor". godsark.org. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- Cleary, Caitlin (16 April 2006). "If the flood comes too soon, this ark won't be quite ready". Local News. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2006.
- Beal, Timothy (2005). Nowaday Noah. Beacon Press.
Further reading
- Hiaasen, Rob (7 August 2007), "Hope Floats", The Baltimore Sun, retrieved 29 June 2010
- Beal, Timothy K. (2005), "Nowaday Noah", Roadside Religion: In Search of the Sacred, the Strange, and the Substance of Faith, Beacon Press, pp. 88–101, ISBN 0-8070-1063-4
- Steelhammer, Rick (7 November 1999), "'As God Provides, We Build': Modern-day Noah fills ark with hope", The Charleston Gazette, p. P01A, Factiva cgaz000020010826dvb7014u3
- Fisher, Marc (6 September 1987), "Roll Over, Noah", The Washington Post, p. w24, Factiva wp00000020011118dj9602gix