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COMMUNITY:
Project Descriptions

San Francisco's Buried History

January 1, 2019 - June 30, 2021 | Media and Technology, Public Programs, Exhibitions

Production of a mobile-optimized website, a walking tour, and a museum exhibition exploring the history of underground and submerged sites in downtown San Francisco and the Bay.

The Exploratorium seeks support for the production and distribution of San Francisco's Buried History, a project that uses digital technology to engage the public in a physical and virtual exploration of the urban history of Downtown San Francisco. Specifically, Buried History uses a mobile-optimized web site, a walking tour, and accompanying museum exhibit to explore seventeen underground sites that provide fascinating clues as to how the landscape was used and altered over time, as well as to how past inhabitants of the area lived, worked and died. The project will prompt the public to become curious about the rich historical and cultural information right beneath their feet, and the story that information tells of how and why human activity transformed the landscape of San Francisco. In doing so, Buried History will engage users in adopting a more nuanced sense of place—encouraging its audience to learn from historical insights while developing perspectives on contemporary issues.

Funders

NEH
Funding Program: Digital Projects for the Public: Production Grants
Award Number: MN-263956-19
Funding Amount: $200,000

TEAM MEMBERS

  • Robert Rothfarb
    Principal Investigator
    Exploratorium
  • Discipline: History/policy/law | Social science and psychology
    Audience: General Public | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Websites, Mobile Apps, and Online Media | Public Programs | Museum and Science Center Programs | Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits

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