The COVID-19 outbreak has left parks, museums, historical archives and similar institutions in an extremely vulnerable position. As unpredictable and rare a moment this is, museums must ask themselves: How can we bring value to both tourists and our community when options are severely limited?
Museums are more than just the sum of its displays, artifacts and exhibits; they are a window into the soul of the community's they represent.
At Tapestry Media, we understand how history can teach us about the past, present and future. That is why we are committed to taking our bread and butter--maps--and using modern solutions to tell their story. Below is just one small example of how a single map can tell us far more than we think.
Using Mapbox's georeferencing technology, we can effectively align an historical map with a standard satellite map view, making it easier for your audience to understand the evolution of your city. Using QGIS and Mapbox, the historical map can sit atop the satellite view, and you can use a slider or a button to switch between the two views.
Take this map from Myseum of Toronto, for example (below). The Women of the Ward was an interactive tour of St.John's Ward in downtown Toronto, where you could walk around and listen to performances from important historical figures in the neighbourhood. Using georeferencing technology, you could see The Ward as it was in the early 20th century, with tightly-packed row houses and slums existing in the shadow the nearby Eaton's complex, today the Eaton Centre Mall.
But georeferencing can also make map viewing easier. Mapbox's user interface lets you view in 3D, meaning that if you add a historical map upon the original area, you can now view these maps in the same way as you view Google Earth. Instead of a clunky solution that is difficult to zoom into, you can simply move around the map with ease. Consider, for example, the map of Venice below. This map was created 300 years ago, yet it is so geographically precise that you can see different interpretations of the same buildings.
What We Can Do
There are a variety of ways that Tapestry Media can provide a mapping experience for your team:
- Interactive tours using historical maps. Let your audience walk on an historical map and immerse themselves in the past.
- 3D historical map viewer. Convert your map images into 3D interfaces that are easy to use and responsive as well.
- Historical storytelling. Use the map interface to explore different eras or major historical events like battles, disasters, protests and more.