Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural House
BPI re-imagined this traditional historical house tour into a media-rich, immersive walk-through experience. Using audio, lighting, and even smells, BPI maintained the historic authenticity of many of the home’s rooms.
The orientation area envelops visitors in the 1901 Pan American Exposition, alive with a rich soundscape, artifacts, and working arcade activities. Utilizing BPI’s tactile interactive strategy, visitors try their hand at shrewd business decisions in the period arcade game, Captain of Industry. A lush film describes the Gilded Age and culminates in dramatic environmental effects, as President McKinley is assassinated.
The immersive Issues Object Theater features a 25’ printed scrim depicting five historic themes that Roosevelt would confront in his unexpected presidency. Show-controlled lighting reveals layered imagery and objects behind the scrim. An audio track brings the whole thing to life.
BPI also recreated Roosevelt’s White House office, where visitors use a touchscreen embedded into the President’s desk to sign or veto congressional bills. Additional AV interactives encourage visitors to compare contemporary political issues with similar topics from Roosevelt’s presidency.