3D Storytelling and Virtual Tours for Museums and Cultural Heritage Sites

Platforms that offer 3-dimensional (3D) storytelling elevate the story experience for viewers. In most cases, these platforms can be viewed without specialized equipment or devices other than a computer or smartphone, but some 3D platforms offer the option to explore with a Virtual Reality (VR) headset. It’s within this virtual space where a story unfolds. 

Many of the experiences offered on these platforms fall into the category of cultural heritage sites. The setting for these stories is typically the original location where the objects were found, whether it’s a 3D replica of a place that still exists today or a reconstruction of a historical site that existed decades, if not centuries, ago. In either case, the situational context and additional information provided by the 3D environment helps to deepen the story experience. 

The 3D Space and Virtual Tours for Cultural Heritage Sites

In shifting the location to a non-museum site, the 3D setting often acts as a virtual tour—guiding you through the site with helpful highlights along the way. This type of story execution centers the viewer and grants them agency to navigate the site (and story) in any fashion. The freedom facilitated by the platform helps to further engage users in the experience and improves their chances of making it through to the end. 

3D Storytelling Platforms Are Still Uncommon

Platforms that support 3D virtual tour productions are more technically advanced and costly than other forms of digital storytelling. While there are many options for code-based (open source and proprietary) and no-code scrollytelling platforms, 3D virtual tour platforms are not nearly as ubiquitous. That said, they do exist and will become increasingly available and easier to apply as technology progresses.  

Features of 3D Virtual Tour Platforms

Regardless of platform, there are some shared features for 3D virtual tour platforms. Features common to 3D virtual tour platforms are:  

• A 3D layout of the space.  
• The ability to navigate through the space via keyboard, mouse, or touch gestures.  
• Hot spots where additional text or additional media are available for engagement. 
• Optional use of a VR headset and accessories for exploration.  

There are (of course) many additional tools available and we will explore a few of those in upcoming posts.  

Identifying Storytelling Infrastructure  

The evaluation of 3D virtual tour platforms will include the identification of familiar storytelling infrastructure. Listed below is a quick refresher. For a more in-depth explanation of these concepts, please see my post on Museum Exhibit Design as Storytelling Infrastructure. 

Storytelling infrastructure in exhibit design includes:  

• The Story Path  
• Storytelling Performance Types  
• Sensory Setting  

The story path can follow either:  

• A Linear Pathway 
• Multiple Pathways 

There are three storytelling performance types:  

• Oral 
• Written 
• Visual  

Finally, the sensory setting elements are:  

• Lighting 
• Sound 
• Color 
• Texture  

Note: Temperature and smell are removed as they are not a feature currently available in a 3D virtual tour.    

Platform for Storytelling Examples: Mused.com

There are a number of platform options available, several which cater to educational, archaeological, and heritage sectors. Analysis in the following posts will refer to projects produced and published by Mused.com. Mused describes their work as, “Bringing immersive cultural heritage experiences to gaming, classrooms, and libraries around the world.” When discussing their mission, Mused states:  

“Our role as technologists and digital humanists is to empower educators and cultural heritage workers around the world to tell their stories and connect with their audiences.” 

The Mused mission very closely aligns with the mission of storytelling and ultimately the mission museums around the world share.  

Storytelling Infrastructure Can be Widely Applied

As demonstrated in earlier posts, storytelling infrastructure can be applied in a variety of settings. Understandably, execution can look very different among the storytelling platforms and tools reviewed. These last few examples are truly awe-inspiring. Even though they may be out of reach currently—due to budget, technology, or both—they won’t be out of reach forever.