AUSTIN (KXAN)— In honor of Black History Month, Austinites are bringing history to life through a free augmented reality event. “History All Around Us” is available to see at the Texas Capitol’s South Steps and Wooldridge Square throughout February.
This innovation allows viewers to experience Austin’s diverse history in 3D digital art design, historical interpretations and engaging narratives. The free event is accessible through the augzoo app for iPhone products.
Kendra Dobson, Founder of 3240 Entertainment, created the vision plan for this project and it took off with artwork by Christopher Williams, and the augzoo team including Michael Mares Mendoza, Neema Rezaee. Austin-based voice actors Marc Pouhé and Yesenia Garcia Herrington were also apart of the team.
Starting at the south steps of the Texas Capitol, you will see an animation of the civil rights activist, Booker T. Washington, through the app. As you walk closer to him, he will begin to speak about African American Texas history.
“In 1911, Governor Campbell invited Booker T. Washington to speak at the Capitol, but the legislature forbid him to speak anywhere on the grounds. So in one way, this experience redeems some of the history that he was not allowed to do here,” Spatial Project Editor, Michael Mares Mendoza said.
In order to actively engage with the community, the project provides educational content while celebrating local history to residents and tourists.
“It encourages people to do some cultural heritage tourism of their own and even for Austinites who don’t necessarily know so much about their own history,” Mares Mendoza said.
While this event is only available during Black History Month, it brought a new perspective into inviting more people to learn about Texas history.
“For me, it means a lot seeing that. Being just a man of color, African American descent, and seeing a statue over there, but then come over here just to hear his voice. Actually, it gives me chills,” Tourist Joshua Jones said. “It makes you appreciate your history.”
This project is supported by the City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Elevate Grant from the Economic Development Department of Austin. The grant was awarded to 3240 Entertainment last summer.
“I think it’s really great that they’re doing something like, acknowledging Austin’s history, but also its future, and the mixture of high tech. Also, the different types of artistic practices that we have here in Austin,” Jesus Pantel, City of Austin’s Cultural Funding Supervisor said.
The Austin historical sites will have this augmented reality feature available throughout the month of February. Whether the innovation gets funding again in the upcoming year, that will determine if the project will continue to grow.
