Museum Project: Immersive Interactive Experience

Museum Project: Immersive Interactive Experience

Project Properties

• Client: Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum

• Academic Institution: Bellevue College (RISE Learning Institute)

• Program: Advanced XR Development & Client Collaboration

• Status: In Progress

• PBL Focus: XR Design & Community Heritage

Project Overview

This project involves the development of an immersive interactive experience for the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum. It serves as the primary Project-Based Learning (PBL) initiative for the Advanced XR Development & Client Collaboration course at Bellevue College, leading toward a RISE Learning Institute showcase and PBL certificate.

Core Interactive Features

• 3D Artifacts: High-fidelity digital reconstructions of museum items for interactive exploration.

• Text Hotspots: Information-rich callouts providing deep historical context throughout the virtual environment.

• Audio Integration: Spatial audio and narrated segments to enhance user immersion.

• Video Integration: Embedded historical media and footage integrated directly into the virtual space.

• Navigation Mapping: Intuitive spatial mapping and wayfinding to guide users through the digital experience.

Supported Platforms & Deployment

The experience is designed for cross-platform accessibility and is displayed on:

• Meta (VR/XR headsets)

• SeekBeak (Interactive 360° environment hosting)

• ThingLink (Interactive visual storytelling)

• PC (Windows desktop/laptop)

• Mac (macOS desktop/laptop)

• Android (Mobile accessibility)

• iPhone (Mobile accessibility)

Project-Based Learning (PBL) Framework

The Museum project is built on the PBL model, focusing on student-centered, active learning through real-world application.

• Real-World Impact: Solving a specific community need for the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum.

• Inquiry-Based Design: Iterative development involving LiDAR, 360-degree imaging, and XR narrative structure.

• Professional Collaboration: Engaging with technical, cultural, and civic partners to ensure historical accuracy and technical viability.

• Public Product: A final showcase at the RISE Learning Institute to demonstrate community-facing XR technology.

Recent Progress & Achievements

• Completed Drone Assets: Integration of 360-degree drone imagery and high-resolution environment mapping is finalized.

• Stakeholder Validation: Ongoing coordination with the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe and 4Culture to ensure content accuracy.

• Narrative Refinement: Continued development of the "choose your own adventure" storyline within the XR framework.

Stakeholders and Collaborators

• Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum (Primary Client)

• Bellevue College RISE Learning Institute (Academic Partner)

• XR Northwest

• U.S. Science Foundation

• Snoqualmie Indian Tribe (Cultural & Historical Validation)

• 4Culture (Funding & Support)

• City of North Bend (Local Civic Partner)

• King County (Regional Heritage Support)

• Snoqualmie Valley School District (Educational Outreach)

• Meadowbrook Farm Preservation Association (Mary Norton)

Technical Specifications

• Category: XR (Extended Reality)

• Methodology: LiDAR scanning and 360-degree drone photography.

• Primary Objective: Interactive storytelling and community heritage preservation.

Next Milestones

• Finalize the user interface (UI) for the interactive narrative segments.

• Complete the final build for the RISE Learning Institute showcase.

Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum

Interactive Virtual Experiences

Project Description: Snoqualmie Valley Virtual Museum

This project enhances engagement with the Snoqualmie Valley Museum through an interactive, web-based virtual experience. Designed for a diverse audience—ranging from local history enthusiasts to industry professionals—the platform makes Snoqualmie Valley history accessible to a global community through a modern, digital lens.

Key Features

• Immersive Exploration: 360° and 3D virtual tours allow users to remotely navigate museum rooms and galleries.

• Interactive Discovery: Clickable "hotspots" enable users to zoom in on artifacts, access detailed historical data, and follow personalized research paths.

• Community Support: Dedicated pathways for user feedback and museum support encourage long-term involvement and patronage.

The Mission

By digitizing the museum’s collection, this project strengthens community ties and preserves historical credibility. It ensures that the unique heritage of Snoqualmie Valley is available to both local residents and remote audiences, fostering a deeper connection to our shared past.

Problem Statement: Snoqualmie Valley Virtual Museum

The Audience

The primary users are visitors to the Snoqualmie Valley Museum website, including local history enthusiasts and industry professionals. These users typically access the site via mobile devices or computers and possess the digital literacy to navigate standard web interfaces.

The Challenge

While users frequently encounter historical information online, they often lack a clear path for deeper engagement. This disconnect leads to decreased interest and a weakened relationship with the museum. Without an immersive way to explore the collection, the museum's mission to preserve and share local history is limited to those who can visit in person.

The Goal

The objective is to strengthen community connection and historical credibility through a high-quality, interactive digital experience.

The Solution

The project will implement a web-based virtual tour featuring 360° or 3D views of museum rooms. This intuitive format allows users to explore the museum’s interior remotely, providing an engaging and accessible way to interact with Snoqualmie Valley’s heritage.

Team Members

• Maria Sanchez Isaza – International Scholar*,*** Author & Professor

• Adriana DiMercurio – Artist & 3D Designer

• Ron Austin – Digital Learning Specialist & UX/UI Designer

• Travis Bridgman – Project Manager & Co-Developer

Early Exploration and Decision

Two Early Project Directions

Direction 1: Publish All Information Upfront

This direction focused on presenting all available content on the main page, offering users many options immediately. The intent was to give users maximum freedom to explore artifacts, timelines, and historical information without a guided structure.

Strengths

• Immediate access to all available information

• High transparency and user control

• Minimal barriers to exploration

Limitations

• Can feel overwhelming to first-time users

• Lacks a clear narrative or starting point

• Users may struggle to decide where to begin

Direction 2: Guided Welcome Experience with Three Exploration Paths

This direction proposed a clean, complete welcome presentation that introduces the museum and then offers three clear directions to proceed. The experience functions as a “choose your own adventure” timeline, allowing users to explore curated paths based on personal interest while maintaining flexibility.

Strengths

• Provides a clear and approachable starting point

• Reduces cognitive overload

• Encourages deeper engagement through narrative structure

• Supports accessibility and wayfinding

Limitations

• Requires more upfront planning and design

• Some users may prefer immediate access to all content

User Feedback Summary

Where Users Leaned More Strongly

User feedback indicated a stronger preference for a guided entry experience. Users expressed that having a clear introduction and defined paths helped them feel more confident about where to begin and encouraged them to explore further.

Main Questions or Concerns Raised

• Will users still be able to explore freely beyond the guided paths?

• How many choices should be presented at the start?

• Can the experience balance guidance with user autonomy?

Current Project Direction

The project will move forward with a guided welcome presentation that introduces the museum and offers three curated exploration paths. This “choose your own adventure” timeline will serve as the foundation for early prototyping, while still allowing users to explore additional content at their own pace.

Decision Rationale

This direction was chosen because it balances clarity and flexibility. A guided entry point helps users understand the structure of the experience without limiting exploration. Offering multiple paths supports different interests and learning styles while reducing cognitive overload and improving accessibility.

Assumptions and Risks to Test

• Users understand and value the three-path structure

• The welcome experience does not feel restrictive

• Users can easily move between or return to different paths

• The guided timeline increases engagement rather than limiting discovery

Email:

Hi Cristy Lake & Snoqualmie Valley Historical Society,

We are truly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate and learn together. As we explore the best ways to communicate and connect while gathering insights, we’re excited to meet weekly with historians and site visitors to better understand how clients will use the resources.

Meet Our Team:

• Maria Sanchez Isaza – Author & Professor

• Adriana DiMercurio – Artist & 3D Designer

• Ron Austin – Digital Learning Specialist & UX/UI Designer

• Travis Bridgman – Project Manager & Developer

Our Objective:

We are digitizing the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum exhibits by integrating visual stories, interviews, artifacts, and images into an immersive, interactive XR environment for learning and exploration. Using state-of-the-art tools, we are creating a fun, engaging, and informative digital world that honors knowledgeable historians, highlights authentic artifacts, and is accessible to all.

Funding & Collaboration:

This project is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and made possible through collaboration with the Bellevue College Library Media Center | XR Lab, the Northwest XR EDU Network, and the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum.

Bellevue College | Arts & Humanities

DMA 294: XR Development & Client Collaboration

Professor Contact: maria.sanchezi@bellevuecollege.edu

Project Contact: Travis Bridgman | travis.bridgman@bellevuecollege.edu

Hello all,

This project is very exciting for us. Travis was easy to collaborate with in the fall, and we are thrilled that, with your help, we will be able to make history and the Snoqualmie Valley Museum more accessible to the public.

Best regards,

Madeline Parker| Education Assistant

PO Box 179 | North Bend, WA 98045

Madeline@SnoqualmieValleyMuseum.org | SnoqualmieValleyMuseum.org