The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum has launched “Unhidden Heroines,” a free augmented reality experience on the National Mall that brings to life the stories of five women whose contributions helped shape America. From the Lincoln Memorial to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the National Mall tells the story of America through many of its most influential leaders. But where are the women whose contributions helped define the country alongside them?
Using AR and interactive storytelling, the “Unhidden Heroines” experience allows visitors to open unhidden-heroines.com and step into immersive 3D stories mapped to five iconic Mall locations. At each stop, the story culminates in something that doesn’t yet exist in real life: a monument-sized statue of the woman herself. The five women featured are:
–Polly Cooper (Oneida Nation), at the Washington Monument — provided critical food and care to Washington’s Continental Army during the brutal winter at Valley Forge
–Julia Ward Howe, at the Lincoln Memorial — wrote “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” the defining rallying anthem of the Union cause during the Civil War
–Dr. Dorothy Height, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial — known as the “Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement” for more than five decades of leadership in civil and women’s rights
–Elizebeth Smith Friedman, at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial — a pioneering cryptanalyst who played a central role in cracking Nazi codes during World War II
–Mary Katherine Goddard, at the Jefferson Memorial — the printer who published the first signed copy of the Declaration of Independence, the only non-signatory name to appear on that document
Created by Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P), the experience includes interactive scenes and historically rich narration voiced by carefully cast actors, including an Oneida woman voicing Polly Cooper and a woman who personally knew Dr. Dorothy Height voicing her story, as well as a gamified layer with five collectible artifacts for younger visitors. For those outside Washington, an At Home version is accessible from anywhere.
“This experience is truly representative of our museum’s mission to expand the story of America through the often-untold accounts and accomplishments of women,” said Melanie Adams, interim director of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
“Giving these amazing women the recognition they deserve is something we are incredibly proud of. And by creating an experience that’s innovative and entertaining, that’s how we’ll engage and inspire the next generation of history-makers,” said Margaret Johnson, chief creative officer at GS&P.
The experience runs June 18 through December 31.
This video maps out the experience.
