Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum Virtual Tour: An Interactive XR Experience

Project Overview

This interactive, web-based XR (Extended Reality) experience allows users to explore the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum from anywhere in the world. Developed by Bellevue College students in partnership with the museum and the Northwest XR EDU Network, the project uses 360-degree imagery, drone technology, spatial audio, and interactive hotspots to preserve and share the history of North Bend and the surrounding valley.

The project serves a dual purpose: it provides an inclusive, accessible educational resource for the public and acts as a living lab for students practicing UX/UI design, storytelling, and digital preservation.

Core Pillars and Heritage Foundations

The project is built on three foundational pillars:

Problem, Goal, and Solution

The Problem

Online visitors frequently encounter historical information in isolation without clear pathways to continue exploring. This gap can lead to lower engagement and a weaker connection to the museum, which challenges the museum’s mission to maintain strong community engagement and historical credibility.

The Goal

To increase engagement and strengthen community connections through an interactive digital experience that showcases the museum at a broad level while allowing users to zoom in on specific artifacts and narrative threads.

The Solution

A web-based virtual tour hosted directly on the museum’s website. Users can navigate 360-degree interior and exterior spaces, interact with layered educational content, and follow personalized learning paths. The experience can also be shared through social media to reach local residents, educators, and broader audiences.

Target Audience

This resource is designed for:

Educational Applications

Core educational uses include:

Learning Objectives

By using this resource, learners will be able to:

Educational Level

Suggested educational levels:

Primary recommended level: Community College / Lower Division Undergraduate

Instructional Approach

Recommended teaching methods:

Instructional Notes

This virtual tour can be used as a stand-alone online activity, a pre-visit orientation, or a post-visit reflection. Instructors can assign students to select one room, exhibit, or artifact from the tour and investigate its historical significance using both the virtual environment and supplemental sources such as maps, photographs, or written documents.

For media, XR, or digital arts courses, the tour can be used as a case study in user experience design, XR production workflow, and digital preservation. Students can analyze interaction design, accessibility features, narrative structure, and technical choices, then prototype a small-scale virtual exhibit inspired by this model.

Time Required

Assessment Ideas

Possible assessments include:

Technical Requirements

Accessibility Notes

The virtual tour is designed as a web-based experience that can be accessed on desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and many mobile devices. Users can navigate the environment using mouse, touch, or keyboard controls depending on their device.

Key information is provided in written text alongside visual media rather than relying only on audio. Educators are encouraged to provide supplemental printed screenshots, transcripts, or descriptive summaries for learners who may not be able to interact fully with 360-degree media or spatial audio.

Language

English

Suggested License

Recommended license: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)


Project Stakeholders and Partners

Museum Stakeholders

Project Team

Educational and Network Partners

Metadata

Abstract / Description Summary

An immersive, interactive virtual tour of the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum created by Bellevue College students through the RISE Learning Institute and the Northwest XR EDU Network. Built using 360-degree imagery, drone capture, and spatial audio, this project functions as both an accessible digital archive of North Bend’s local history and a model for project-based XR learning, UX/UI design, and community-engaged storytelling.

Subject Areas

Material Type

Keywords

Snoqualmie Valley, North Bend, Museum, Virtual Tour, 360 Video, XR Education, Extended Reality, Project-Based Learning, Bellevue College, RISE Learning Institute, Northwest XR EDU, Digital Preservation, Local History




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Step inside the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum from anywhere. This immersive tour was created by Bellevue College students in collaboration with the museum and the Northwest XR EDU network to preserve and share North Bend’s stories in an accessible, interactive way. Using 360‑degree images, spatial audio, and interactive hotspots, you can explore artifacts, exhibits, and outdoor spaces while learning how local history connects across the valley.


This digital experience is part of an Advanced XR Development course and a RISE Learning Institute Project‑Based Learning initiative at Bellevue College. Working closely with museum staff, the team captured the site with 360‑degree cameras and drones, then built an interactive tour that runs on web and VR headsets.

The project’s goal is to create a welcoming, educational space where visitors can explore the museum at their own pace, whether they are preparing for an in‑person visit, revisiting a favorite exhibit, or accessing the collection remotely. It also serves as a living lab for students to practice XR design, storytelling, and community‑engaged work.


This project is made possible through a partnership between the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum, Bellevue College’s RISE Learning Institute, and the Northwest XR EDU network. Additional support and guidance come from community and cultural allies, including the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, 4Culture, and regional heritage organizations that help ensure the accuracy and respectfulness of the stories shared here.