LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A new project brings stories to life through augmented reality. 

It's at the edge of the Ohio River by the banks where the (Un)Known Project sits. Now, the art installation has a new aspect to experience stories, literally.

"When we started the (Un)Known Project, we knew that we wanted to have some element of these stories being brought to life where people could continue to engage in this space," said Hannah Drake, the project's co-founder. "Even if we weren't down here, they could still engage in this space and learn history." 

In June 2021, they installed a historical art monument, "On the Banks of Freedom," which honors the lives of enslaved people in Kentucky.

"I wouldn't have thought years ago, 'Oh, we can bring this ancestor to life and she can share these stories as if she was standing right on the banks of freedom,'" Drake said.

Through a partnership with Collimation and MindWise, they’ve developed an innovative augmented reality and hologram experience, "The Footprints Through Time."

"Our goal was always to tell the most impactful story, just in a way you can connect to, and these technologies actually give you that," said Adrian Rashad Driscoll, Collimation producer and director.

He said they spent about a year bringing these stories to life.

"So you're talking about the Transatlantic Slave Trade; you're talking about racism," Driscoll said. "You're looking at redlining. You're looking at all of these elements that are very uncomfortable to talk about, right?"

"Nobody wants to have these conversations. And if you're on one side of the fence, nobody wants to be told they're wrong ... so how do you have this story told and have this conversation in a non-confrontational way? And that's the opportunity this gives you." 

The team launched three historical sites in Kentucky and one in South Carolina. More details on QR codes and locations are on the (Un)Known Project website.