THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AT THE The National Railroad Hall of Fame was established in Galesburg, Illinois, by resolution of the United States Congress to honor the men and women who built the rails. The ingenuity, vision, and courage embodied in the lives of Hall of Fame inductees offer magnificent stories of national importance. The railroaders transformed America; their stories have the power to inspire and transform all who discover them. The Hall of Fame will employ interactive technology to create an immersive and inspiring visitor experience. Guests will enter a Grand Hall with the look and feel of a timeless railroad station concourse. A large mural at the far end of the station depicts the entire pageant of railroad history. A digital timeline dominating the center of the hall uses touch-screen technology to introduce visitors to the people, events, and machines that shaped America through the rails.
From the central hall, guests may explore several adventures, each an integral part of the epic railroading saga. Each direction in the facility will offer a new, interactive experience. "Building the Engines of Freedom" Theater will put guests at the center of a great adventure as visionaries dare to build the machines and rails that wil unite our continent. This immersive, six screen spectacular will use dynamic visuals, 360-degree sound, seats that move with the presentation, and in-theater special effects like wind and snow. The effect is to place the visitor at the center of the great railroad triumphs - past, present, and future.
The "Spirit of the Railroads" will deepen visitor appreciation for the people behind the American railroad experience, illustrating their shared dream in three thematic galleries: Vision, Ingenuity, Courage.
The Theme "Engines of Freedom" will link all exhibits in the National Railroad Hall of Fame upon completion. Building of the American railroad system launched a technological, economic, and social revolution that brought opportunity and wealth to our nation and continues to drive our economy today.
The inspiring stories of adventure and accomplishment embodied in the lives of the inductees will be available in a dedicated Inductee Gallery through touch-screen technology. Guests will also be tempted to step outside for a stroll along the Walk of Fame, a winding path through Galesburg’s downtown tourist district. Along the way, guests will pass monuments to each of the inductees and several cultural institutions rooted in the railroads. The connection to railroad history is palpable, and as a train approaches, visitors will understand the important role the railroads still play in each of our lives and throughout this country they helped to build.
The National Railroad Hall of Fame will also host themed dining and merchandising facilities that will further enhance the visitor experience. The concept vision for the Hall of Fame visitor experience was created by BRC Imagination Arts of Burbank, California. Among the firm’s design and production credits are the popular Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois; the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam; and the Apollo/Saturn V Center at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Titusville, Florida. |
