Museum Skype Tour Broadens Historical Society’s Reach

A local historical society will be able to give virtual Skype tours of a Victorian home and museum in Presque Isle after getting a grant from the George A. Ramlos Foundation.

The Presque Isle Historical Society owns and operates the 1875 Vera Estey House Museum, a two-story Victorian-era house on Third Street in the Star City.  Society Secretary-Treasurer Kimberly Smith says The Skype-A-Docent grant will allow the Society to install wireless internet at the museum and purchase the technology required to offer virtual tours with a live volunteer guide (a “docent”).  

Smith says it will helps school with limited budgets who are interested in local history but cannot afford field trips, and assists the Society in providing tours to those with mobility issues.  It also will provide greater exposure through the internet.   

The Society hopes to provide at least one virtual tour a month over the next year once the system is up and operational.  The connection has already been installed in the museum and the group is now in the testing phase to work out any logistical bugs.   Smith says there is normally a $5 per person admission to the house museum, but the virtual tours will be offered free during the first year.  The program will then be evaluated for cost effectiveness. 

Any group interested in a “Skype-a-Docent” tour of the 1875 Vera Estey House Museum should contact Smith at (207) 762-1151 or by email at pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com.