Beginning in spring and extending into summer 2021, I participated in the production of the Perry Telescope Interactive Exhibit for display in the Hagen History Center in downtown Erie, Pa.
The Hagen History Center was building an exhibit around an artifact in their collection, Commodore Oliver “Hazard” Perry’s telescope from the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. Commodore Perry would eventually give the telescope to William Henry Harrison, who would eventually serve as President Harrison. Two hundred years later the telescope would find itself meticulously cared for in the History Center, preserved behind a glass case filled with other relevant artifacts. To provide an up-close view of the magnificent historical piece, the VAR Lab from Penn State Behrend was tasked with 3D Scanning the telescope and creating an interactive exhibit to accompany the artifact in the glass case.
Our final product included:
- A 3D Scan of the telescope that could be interacted with on a 55-inch touchscreen.
- An interactive Ship Spotting game based on a 360° panorama taken at the tip of the Presque Isle Peninsula in Erie, Pa, which includes information and paintings for each ship that can be spotted on the horizon.
- A photo album of related documents, scenes from the Battle of Lake Erie, and portraits of the people involved.
To view our exhibit on display, visit the Hagen History Center in Erie, PA!
