American Battlefield Trust's Innovative Liberty Trail AR Experience Wins Webby Award

(Washington, D.C.) —  The American Battlefield Trust’s The Liberty Trail AR Experience app, which merges historical storytelling with groundbreaking technology, was awarded a Webby Award for Art, Culture & Events - Apps & Software. The app offers users a front-row seat to Revolutionary-era military tactics and daily soldier life through augmented reality, connecting them with South Carolina’s Revolutionary War history in a uniquely immersive way. 

“I am so proud that this immersive app, which puts history in the palm of users’ hands, has received this well-deserved acknowledgement,” said Trust President David Duncan. “Thank you to the Webby Awards for recognizing the power of combining technology and history, especially as we mark the 250th anniversary of our great nation’s founding conflict.” 

The Liberty Trail AR Experience provides a new way to interact with Revolutionary War history by exploring key battlefields faithfully reconstructed in 3D. Working together, the American Battlefield Trust, South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust and UK-based augmented reality company Zubr, created the captivating glimpse into places central to the Palmetto State’s pivotal role in the war.  

“This project contained so many details and innovations that made it much more than just an AR app — from our custom-animated musket reload animations to the spatial tracking system that allows you to walk around the historical environments at 1:1 scale,” said Jack Norris, director at Zubr. “It's been a privilege to collaborate with the American Battlefield Trust to bring to life the fight for freedom, and the human stories behind it, and it’s fantastic to see this kind of creative, purposeful digital work celebrated on a global stage.    

“The addition of augmented reality provides the opportunity for visitors to have a more immersive experience,” added Rick Wise, executive director and CEO of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. “While captions and illustrations provide an excellent opportunity to learn about the people and actions at each battlefield, AR allows the imagination to truly soar users witness the action and key structures of the battlefield.” 

The app is one part of the larger Liberty Trail program, which connects locations central to the story of the American Revolution in an unforgettable journey through place and time. It began in South Carolina, before expanding to New Jersey late last year. Massachusetts is the latest state to be featured as part of The Liberty Trail, with more states expected to join the network in the coming months, bearing testimony to more outstanding partnerships and collaborations in the history community.   

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected nearly 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War across 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.  

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