The Wide World of Small Museums: Creation and Earth History Museum

In suburban San Diego, in an otherwise nondescript storefront in the town of Santee, a Tyrannosaurus Rex stands poised to attack.

The dinosaur replica has been there since 1992, positioned to greet visitors entering the Creation and Earth History Museum, an attempt to "provide scriptural and scientific evidence that reinforces the biblical account of creation." The museum provides a religious-based alternative to the scientifically-based theory of evolution, which is to say, it espouses the biblical literalism of Creationism.

Whether you're a believer or not, this place is awesome.

The 10,000-square-foot facility is packed with pseudoscientific exhibits detailing how humans and dinosaurs interacted in prehistoric times, how the carbon dating of rare minerals prove that the Earth hasn't been around nearly as long as popular scientists would have you believe, and how the Bible's tale of Noah's Ark is historically accurate. If those tickle whatever whimsical bones you have, you're going to love the museum's whole line of exhibits.

If you can't make the trip down there, the museum also offers a virtual tour and a whole bunch of free videos accessible from wherever you happen to be viewing the website.

Creation and Earth History Museum
10946 N. Woodside Ave., Santee, CA 92071
Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays; 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sundays