Client: The National Constitution Center
Project: Abraham Lincoln’s Crossroads

This interactive exhibit received a 2006 MUSE Award for History and Culture: "This excellent presentation of a focused body of material was presented in an engaging interactive format—a game that truly teaches, keeping users fully involved and leaving them informed. Very fine voices, and fun, effective animation of Lincoln’s head. Really brings historical material alive. Its use of animation and 3D software was very impressive." Read more about what the judges had to say.

You can also read the paper “Interactive Educational Storytelling: The Use of Virtual Characters to Generate Teachable Moments” presented by Dr. Juan Leon and Matthew Fisher at the Museums and the Web 2006 conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

inspiration

The National Constitution Center wanted an interactive exhibit in conjunction with their special exhibit, “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War”. Exploring the theme of “presidential powers,” Night Kitchen Interactive created Abraham Lincoln’s Crossroads – an online interactive narrative presenting issues and events that faced the nation surrounding such themes as civil liberties, freedom and nationality.

narration

Written by the National Constitution Center’s curatorial team, the online exhibit places the visitor in the unique role of advisor to the President. Lincoln himself provides the background, stopping at key decision points to solicit the visitor’s advice. The result is a compelling example of how key educational goals can effectively be addressed through a participatory storytelling format, engaging audiences who might otherwise find the material challenging.

design

The online exhibit transports the visitor back into Lincoln’s time and place, encouraging active participation. The animated Lincoln virtual character speaks directly to the visitor, waits to hear the visitor’s advice, and then explains his own decision. Animated advisors to Lincoln, scenic backdrops from Lincoln’s life and contemporary images all add to the visual tapestry. Through this immersive experience, history becomes more immediate and relevant.

interaction

Visitors experience the exhibit in chronological order or jump to points of interest. The rich-media exhibit incorporates animated characters, streaming audio, and interactivity to engage the user. The entire experience is also paralleled in a low-bandwidth, html version using images with alt tags and onscreen text.