Streetmuseum is an iPhone app, introduced last year, that lets users view historical city scenes from the Museum of London’s extensive photo, painting and illustration collections.
Here’s a description from the museum’s site:
Streetmuseum gives you a unique perspective of old and new London whether you’re discovering the capital for the first time or revisiting favourite haunts. Hundreds of images from the Museum of London’s extensive collections showcase both everyday and momentous occasions in London’s history, from the Great Fire of 1666 to the swinging sixties.Select a destination from our London map or use your GPS to locate an image near you. Hold your camera up to the present day street scene and see the same London location appear on your screen, offering you a window through time. Want to know more? Simply tap the information button for historical facts.Once you’ve got the hang of it, use Streetmuseum to create your own trails around London. At home, on the way to work or enjoying a trip to the capital – whatever you’re doing, Streetmuseum offers you a different outlook on London.Of course with thousands of years of turbulent history, London has changed many times so some streets or buildings may not exist today. Where precise locations aren’t available, relish the challenge of identifying recognisable landmarks which may offer you clues as to the current day site. A street name in the background or a church spire in the distance may be all you need to find the view. Our descriptions can also help you locate the right spot.
Great use of augmented reality to bring the past to life, and a very impressive case study. I’ve done museum marketing before, and one of the biggest challenges is to make the past relevant to an increasingly future-oriented society. As a history nerd, I’m always trying to visualize what and who came before me, how they differed and what stayed the same. I’ll bet I could spend days wandering through London with this app.
