Historical exhibit coming to Pikeville

Bringing pieces of ancient biblical history to eastern Kentucky.

University of Pikeville and city of Pikeville officials announced Friday the plans for a temporary biblical exhibit coming to Pikeville in 2017.

200 artifacts from ancient Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Syria will soon make their way to Pike County in a walk-through biblical museum.

Officials made the announcement Friday about the museum coming to Pikeville and there were even a few artifacts already displayed.

"Well we have 30 artifacts here today. We have on an early loan, they date from 5,000 years ago all the way down to the time of Christ," said Tommy Chamberlin, Director of exhibit.

The University of Pikeville is working with the city of Pikeville to bring the Khirbet El-Maqatir museum to eastern Kentucky.

Officials say having this museum on display in the historical York House will increase tourism in the area.

"You know, us being in the bible belt, it just goes along with our religion that we have in this area and I think it will bring a lot, a lot of tourism to this area next year when it comes to be," Jimmy Carter, Mayor of Pikeville.

The exhibit is set to open in January 2017.

"It will be a great place where we can do it as a walk through exhibit. We will use the entire York House and that way you can walk from room to room and when you walk into a room you will walk into literally a different period of history," said Chamberlin.

"To have an opportunity to bring it to Pikeville, Kentucky and eastern Kentucky is huge," said Carter.

Carter said the city hopes to have renovations to the York House finished by early fall.

Archaeologist, Bryant Wood, will come to Pikeville to speak about the museum the last weekend of April.