Interactive North Carolina History Explorer exhibit display for America 250 NC, with plants and museum backdrop.
American Battlefield Trust

North Carolina History Explorer Interactive Kiosk

Overview

Interactive Knowledge partnered with the American Battlefield Trust, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and America 250 NC to design and develop an immersive kiosk experience that covers North Carolina history from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War. Timed to align with the America 250 celebration, the initiative brings North Carolina’s rich history to life through an ADA-compliant, map-based touchscreen experience deployed at all nine North Carolina Welcome Centers and key public sites such as the North Carolina Legislative Building and the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources offices.

Challenge

North Carolina sought a compelling way to connect travelers with its diverse historical assets while encouraging in-person visitation. The experience needed to serve a broad audience—from casual visitors to educators—while meeting accessibility standards and functioning seamlessly across a range of physical environments. Additionally, the solution had to unify complex historical narratives spanning multiple eras into a clear, engaging format.

A touchscreen display shows an interactive map of North Carolina with various colored location markers.

Approach

Interactive Knowledge designed a flexible digital platform centered on exploration and storytelling. The team developed a map-driven interface that allows users to discover people, places, and stories across three key periods in North Carolina’s history. The project was implemented in two phases: an initial flagship installation at the North Carolina Legislative Building, followed by a broader rollout to Welcome Centers statewide. 

An older man interacts with a large touchscreen at the North Carolina History Explorer exhibit display.

Key Features

  • Interactive Map Experience: A touch-enabled map that allows visitors to explore using “People, Places and Stories” that help tell the story of North Carolina’s role in the shaping of the United States.
  • Era-Based Storytelling: Content is organized into three distinct historical periods—Revolutionary War, Antebellum Period, and the Civil War.
  • A Two-Minute Overview: An animated video designed for educators and group experiences that allows users to quickly understand the importance of North Carolina history.
  • Accessible Design: ADA-compliant interface with high-contrast visuals and large touch targets accessible to all ages. Content reader functionality is available for the visually impaired, and video captioning and transcripts are the default for the hearing impaired. Finally, the entire interface can adjust to meet wheelchair touch zones.
Six people pose near a large screen mounted on a stand.

Results

The North Carolina History Explorer provides a scalable platform to engage public audiences with the state’s history. By combining intuitive design with rich storytelling, the experience encourages deeper exploration and encourages increased visitation to historic sites.

The phased deployment ensures long-term sustainability, while the platform’s flexibility positions it for future content expansion. First installed at the North Carolina Legislative Building, the next phase quickly followed with kiosks installed in all nine Welcome Centers across the state, as well as the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Building. As part of the America 250 celebration, the project plays a key role in elevating heritage tourism and connecting visitors with North Carolina’s unique historical narrative.

North Carolina Welcome Centers