The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum commemorated Lincoln’s birthday by officially launching Lincoln Unlocked, a digital tool that gives visitors exciting new ways to explore Lincoln’s legacy, see rare items from the library’s collection and even connect with family and friends to play games.
ALPLM visitors can point their phones at exhibits to see historic figures spring to life. They can take themed tours to dive into the roles of women and African Americans during Lincoln’s life. And they can hear “Lincoln” deliver the Gettysburg Address or listen to a music box owned by Mary Lincoln. It’s also an accessibility aide, offering content in six languages and enriching visits for people who are Deaf or visually impaired.
Developed with Google Public Sector and leading global technology consultancy Thoughtworks, Lincoln Unlocked builds on the ALPLM’s tradition of marrying technology and scholarship to share history in compelling new ways.
“Abraham Lincoln’s story still resonates today, more than 200 years after his birth. We must always search for new and better ways to tell that story to as many people as possible,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. “This digital tool adds new layers to the experience of visiting the presidential museum. It lets us share more information about the material in our collection, the evils of slavery and the amazing men and women who helped Lincoln change history.”
An invisible artifact becomes visible with the help of Lincoln Unlocked.
With Lincoln Unlocked, visitors can tour the museum as normal and enjoy augmented reality features as they go. For instance, in an exhibit about slavery, the visitor’s phone will display an array of related artifacts, with information about each – such as a badge enslaved people were required to wear in Charleston, South Carolina. In the section of the museum devoted to the Gettysburg Address, visitors can use their phones to see Abraham Lincoln come to life and deliver the famous speech or see soldiers fighting the bloodiest battle in American history.
Visitors also have the option of taking special tours on the themes “Women of the Era,” “Forever Free” and “History Detective.” The first two guide visitors through the museum with digital presentations of photos and artifacts about the contributions of women and African Americans. The third lets groups link their phones and compete in trivia questions about what they’re learning as they visit.
Lincoln Unlocked can be used even without visiting the museum. Users anywhere can dive into its information about Lincoln’s life and times, learning about people like the courageous Robert Smalls, who helped 16 people escape slavery, and Anna Ella Carroll, a writer and activist who gathered intelligence for the Lincoln administration.
“Lincoln Unlocked lets us share diverse stories and images that add context to Lincoln’s accomplishments,” Shutt said. “It gives visitors more opportunities to return and explore history from new perspectives. And it helps us connect with younger generations that routinely explore the world with phone in hand.”
It also serves as a digital souvenir, letting people look back at their visit to the museum or show highlights to friends and family.
With its realistic scenes from Lincoln’s life, the fascinating “Civil War in Four Minutes” video and the popular “Ghosts of the Library” theatrical experience, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has a well-earned reputation for creatively immersing people in history and engaging visitors of all ages. Lincoln Unlocked adds a new level.
Lincoln Unlocked delivers advanced interactive experiences — including experiential history lessons and virtual tours — all powered by Google Cloud and Thoughtworks. Technology such as Google Cloud’s Immersive Stream for XR create immersive, photorealistic, and gamified experiences.
“Technology has the power to transform learning, creating immersive experiences that bring history to life and make it accessible to everyone,” said Brad Hoffman, Director of State & Local Government, and Education at Google Public Sector. “ALPLM’s in-person, and digital experiences through Lincoln Unlocked, are engaging visitors with the past in dynamic and personal ways, fostering deeper understanding and connection. We are proud to partner with Thoughtworks to provide advanced Google Cloud technology to ALPLM to ignite curiosity around our nation’s history.”
"The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has once again led the way in leveraging innovative technology to engage visitors as it brings history to life. This augmented reality experience represents the next step in that evolution, creating a dynamic and interactive way for families to connect with the stories and legacy of Abraham Lincoln,” said Joe Murray, Global Head of CX and Product at Thoughtworks. “We’re extremely proud to partner with Google in this endeavor, bringing our capabilities in customer experience and digital product development to create a truly extraordinary experience that also sets a new standard for accessibility in the museum world, ensuring that everyone can benefit from the power of AR."
Lincoln Unlocked can be downloaded free from Google Play and Apple’s App Store. Links and more information can be found at LincolnUnlocked.com.
The mission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is to inspire civic engagement through the diverse lens of Illinois history and share with the world the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. We pursue this mission through a combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship built on the bedrock of the ALPLM’s unparalleled collection of historical materials – roughly 13 million items from all eras of Illinois history.
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