In honor of Black History Month, Montgomery County is unveiling an innovative way to delve into the rich African American history of the region at the Digital History Symposium. This approach integrates augmented reality (AR) to provide an immersive experience. Developed by XR Montgomery (part of Montgomery County’s Dept. of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions), Montgomery Parks, and the University of Maryland, this initiative introduces eight AR experiences that vividly depict the history of the Oakley Cabin African American Museum and Park, along with the stories of the people who lived there.
Through these AR experiences, visitors can use their mobile phones to interact with a park ranger avatar, explore 3D models of the cabin’s interior and the missing third cabin’s exterior, engage in interactive games, and witness a flyover that reconstructs the historical surroundings.
Brookside Gardens in Wheaton will host the Digital History Symposium on Tuesday, February 27, from 10 a.m. to noon. Attendees have the option to participate virtually or in-person.
The symposium will be held both at the Brookside Gardens Visitors Center and online via Zoom. Although the event is free, advanced registration is mandatory.
To register for the in-person event, visit bit.ly/XR-InPerson. To attend online, register at bit.ly/XR-Online.
The Brookside Gardens Visitors Center is located at 1800 Glenallan Ave in Wheaton.
Photo courtesy Montgomery Parks
