Jordan House Now Offers Virtual Tours for an Immersive Historic Experience

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - The West Des Moines Historical Society is excited to announce a new online virtual 3-D tour of the Historic Jordan House Museum, located at 2001 Fuller Road. This tour is funded through a grant from the Iowa Culture Leadership Cohort, a partnership between the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council, which is a division of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

“It is our mission to preserve and educate. While the Jordan House offers a unique opportunity to walk in the footsteps of history, the fact that the house was built between 1850-1870 means that the basement and second floor aren’t easily accessible to everyone,” said Gale Brubaker, Executive Director of the West Des Moines Historical Society. “Through the Iowa Culture Leadership Cohort, we discovered a system that would allow us to create a virtual 3-D tour of the interior. This will enable us to highlight objects and stories shared during our weekly tours. Visitors with limited mobility can now stay on the first floor and, using a provided computer, virtually explore all three floors. It will make the opportunities to experience history more equitable and approachable, which is always important.”

The virtual 3-D tour is available on the Historical Society’s website (www.wdmhs.org), allowing anyone with an internet connection and device to experience the tour, no matter their location. Brubaker says that the grant also allowed the West Des Moines Historical Society to purchase a 3-D camera, so there are plans to scan the Bennett School Museum, a log cabin which will be reconstructed as part of the Legacy Woods Historic Campus and a new exhibit, Victorian Leisure, which opens March 21.