The University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities will help the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation develop interactive digital re-creations of five of the town’s historic sites as they appeared in 1776.
The three-dimensional models, intended for use by researchers as well as the general public, will incorporate “the wealth of historical documentation amassed by Williamsburg scholars,” the foundation said in a news release. The project is being paid for by a $943,000 grant from the federal government’s Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Jim Horn, Colonial Williamsburg’s vice president of research and historical interpretation, said that creating detailed virtual tours would be “extremely helpful to museums seeking to enrich visitors’ on-site experiences with a compelling online experience and will be of great benefit in expanding museum audiences, especially among the young.” —Lawrence Biemiller
