Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Buffalo, NY

The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site was once a quiet, classic historical house tour. BPI, re-imagined and redesigned the venue as a media-rich immersive walk through experience.

Conceptual Design

The orientation exhibit envelops visitors in the 1901 Pan American Exposition, alive with a rich soundscape, artifacts, and working arcade activities. Visitors turn the hand-crank of a kinetoscope to view footage of the Exposition, and 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.

AV software production and AV hardware integration

On the second floor, BPI recreated Roosevelt’s White House office, where visitors use a touch-screen embedded into the desk to sign or veto congressional bills. A photo of the visitor sitting at the president’s desk is featured on a customized newspaper to be e-mailed home. As visitors exit, they can vote on several of the same issues Roosevelt con- fronted, but in a modern context.

“Immersive and evocative.” Cutting-edge house museum tour. I'm not even kidding! Very modern: full of interactives and neat uses of technology. Those who like a quieter, more traditional atmosphere might find it a little flashy, but I thought it was really surprising and cool. They told a very clear story and did a nice job of connecting the past and the present day. Memorable and fun.
Trip Advisor Review, Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site