Clockwise from top left, Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site, Missouri State Capitol, Nathan and Olive Boone State Historic Site and Bollinger Mill State Historic Site.
MoDNR photo by Ben Nickelson
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In May 2022, the Missouri State Parks Grants, Recreation and Interpretation Program received a nearly $500,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to help fund the development of a series of 360-degree virtual tours of Missouri’s state historic sites.
The tours, collectively referred to as MO Virtual Heritage, aim to improve on-site accessibility and inclusivity, increase cultural heritage tourism and expand our reach to visitors throughout Missouri and beyond.
Once completed, the tours will be available at their respective sites upon request as a tour alternative for guests with physical limitations. The tours will also be available online on the Missouri State Parks website. The first phase of the project is anticipated to be completed in fall 2024. A 360-degree virtual tour prototype of the Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio was completed last fall and serves as a blueprint for the other participating historic sites.
Early reviews by beta testers have been positive. “It was wonderful to tour the Benton home from the convenience of my computer. No need to wait for a sunny day,” said Bernice Iwamoto, a senior computer programmer at City College of San Francisco. “The house is brightly lit, so it will always be a beautiful sunny day for visitors to enjoy looking at how the Benton family lived and worked.”
Take the new virtual tour of Thomas Hart Benton State Historic Site for a spin yourself on the Missouri State Parks website.
