Virtual tours offered
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A grant from the George A. Ramlose Foundation will allow the Presque Isle Historical Society to establish a “Skype-a-Docent” Program.
The Historical Society owns and operates the 1875 Vera Estey House Museum, a small two-story Victorian-era house on Third Street in Presque Isle. The grant will allow the society to install wireless internet at the museum and purchase the technology required to offer virtual tours with a live volunteer guide (a “docent”).
The tours will be given using Skype, a computer software application that allows video phone calls which can be received on large screen televisions or laptops in schools, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities from anywhere in the world with internet access.
Kimberly Smith, secretary/treasurer for the society, said, “The Historical Society is extremely excited about this opportunity. It allows us to fulfill our mission of promoting local history, helps schools with limited budgets who are interested in local history but cannot afford field trips, and assists us in providing tours to those with mobility issues. In addition, it gives us the opportunity to expand our audience globally.”
Smith added that, while it is ideal to take the tour in person when possible to actually touch the artifacts and experience the ambience of the house, this provides a “fix” for those who are unable to do so.
The Society hopes to provide at least one virtual tour a month over the next year once the system is up and operational. The internet has already been installed in the museum and the group is now in the testing phase to work out any logistical “bugs.”
Although there is normally a $5-per-person admission to the house museum, the virtual tours will be offered free during the first year. The program will then be evaluated for cost effectiveness.
Any group interested in a “Skype-a-Docent” tour of the Estey House should contact Smith at 762-1151 or by email at pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com.
