A NEW array of multimedia exhibits will be unveiled at the T. Stell Newman Visitor Center in Piti.
The new exhibits include interactive timelines, games, videos, and historical facts of World War II and the War in the Pacific. The interactive items can be accessed by swiping a finger across a touchscreen. Narratives heard over a state-of-the art sound system for each exhibit enhance the experience. In addition, assistive technology offers descriptive narratives for the visually impaired and enhanced audio for the hearing impaired.
The grand opening will be on July 21, Liberation Day.
The centerpiece of the exhibit is a topographical map of Guam that is equipped with a laser counterpart to illustrate the narration. This centerpiece is one-of-a-kind, not found in any other museum, not even the Smithsonian, says Barbara Alberti, exhibit supervisor.
Descriptions and narrations are available in three languages: English, Chamorro, and Japanese. By next year, the center hopes to have them available in Russian and Chinese.
The new exhibit incorporates more local perspectives and the human experience. War-time local stories have also been collected and are on display.
The cost of the project is about $2 million and it took seven years to come to fruition. The exhibit was constructed with the help of local and national partners.
Visitors are encouraged to explore every new feature of the museum without fear of breaking anything. The entire exhibit, including the touch bins, are built for durability, Alberti assures.
Revamping the visitor’s center is a way to attract local visitors, in addition to the various tourists that visit Guam.
“We’re hoping it will be the gateway for the people of Guam to understand and appreciate their history,” stated Dan Brown, park ranger.
