You can now travel back in time and take part in the first-ever free tour of Kentucky’s black history. Six tourism organizations from around the state have teamed up to launch “Kentucky Black Trailblazers,” an immersive augmented reality experience that brings to life the stories of important black figures in the state. Locals and tourists alike can take part in the experience at 19 designated locations across the state. Simply scan a QR code to launch a live-action holographic video depicting heroes such as Muhammad Ali and civil rights leader Whitney M. Young. The project was two years in the making and officially launched this summer. “We found a company called Tactic in Los Angeles,” said Janet Marson, president and CEO of Shelby KY Tourism. “They were doing Pokemon Go. They were doing 19 Crimes wine bottles. So we wanted to work with the best.” The cutting-edge educational technology is free to use and is available through the tourism offices of Shelby Kentucky, Louisville, Oldham County, Bardstown, Elizabethtown and Shepherdsville-Bullitt County. According to Marson, the project was made possible by a federal ARPA grant distributed by the Kentucky Tourism Office. “Kentucky Black Trailblazers” aims to honor and preserve the contributions of black leaders to the state and make them accessible to people of all ages. “I think this experience will help young people know their history,” said Shelby County Historian Sanda Jones, who played a major role in launching the experience. “They don’t have to look at history as something old and outdated because they will use modern technology to hear history and see history.” Click here for more information and to see the locations that will offer the new technology.
SHELBYVILLE, Ky. —
Now you can step back in time and take part in the first-ever free journey through Kentucky’s Black history.
Six tourism boards across the state have teamed up to launch “Kentucky Black Trailblazers,” an immersive augmented reality experience that brings to life the stories of important Black figures in the state.
At 19 designated locations across the state, locals and tourists alike can take part in the experience by simply scanning a QR code to launch a live-action holographic video featuring heroes like Muhammad Ali and civil rights leader Whitney M. Young.
The project has been two years in the making and officially launched this summer.
“We found a company called Tactic out of Los Angeles,” says Janet Marson, president and CEO of the Shelby KY Convention and Visitors Bureau, “They did Pokemon Go, they did 19 Crimes wine bottles, so we wanted to work with the best.”
This cutting edge educational technology is free to use and available through the tourism offices of Shelby KY, Louisville, Oldham County, Bardstown, Elizabethtown and Shepherdsville-Bullitt County.
Marson said the project was made possible through a federal ARPA grant allocated by the Kentucky Tourism Office.
“Kentucky Black Trailblazers” aims to celebrate and preserve the contributions of Black leaders to the state and to inspire people of all ages.
“I think this will help our young people learn about history,” said Shelby County Historian Sanda Jones, who played a major role in creating the experience. “They’ll hear the history and they’ll use modern technology to see the history, so they don’t have to look at history as something old and outdated.”
Click here to learn more and see where we offer new technology.
