Museum of the Bible

Following its grand opening, the Museum of the Bible (MOTB) in Washington, D.C., identified a need to enrich the visitor experience with more interactive elements. The museum’s leadership aimed to integrate advanced technology to offer visitors new ways to engage with biblical history and locations, thereby enhancing educational and immersive opportunities within the museum’s offerings.

To address this need, MOTB partnered with us due to our expertise in creating immersive experiences. Together, we embarked on a project to introduce a virtual reality (VR) tour using groundbreaking OVRx technology. The collaboration leveraged exclusive legacy content provided by OVRx, including rare 360° footage obtained before the advent of restrictions on digital photogrammetry in many historical sites.

The project team focused on creating the “Lands of the Bible VR Tour,” which aimed to transport visitors virtually to twenty significant biblical locations such as the Sea of Galilee, the Temple Mount, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. To enhance the group experience, the Oculus Go headsets were chosen for their unique audio delivery system, which played tour audio through headbands instead of headphones, allowing guests to interact with each other during the VR journey.

Additionally, we worked on redesigning MOTB’s website to further enhance user engagement and accessibility, ensuring that both online and on-site experiences were seamlessly integrated.

The introduction of the Lands of the Bible VR tour at the Museum of the Bible marked a significant enhancement in the museum’s ability to offer a dynamic and engaging visitor experience. Capable of accommodating up to 400 visitors per hour, the tour provides an extensive reach, allowing large groups to experience the Holy Land together without leaving the museum.

During its first year, the VR experience attracted over 100,000 visitors, demonstrating its popularity and the effectiveness of integrating mixed reality into the museum environment. This innovative approach not only increased visitor engagement but also set a new standard for how museums can blend education with cutting-edge technology to create meaningful and memorable experiences.

The Museum of the Bible’s venture into virtual reality has proven to be a successful strategy in increasing visitor interaction and satisfaction. The Lands of the Bible VR experience stands as a testament to the potential of mixed reality in enhancing the educational impact of museum exhibits, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore ancient sites and experience biblical stories in an entirely new way.