The European Chornobyl Institute, with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, has introduced the first virtual tour for VR headsets at the National Chernobyl Museum. The main goal of the CHORNOBYL X project is to underscore the historical significance and importance of Chornobyl for the self-identification of Ukrainians and the world. This information was provided by the project's press service.
Over the past four months, the first digitization of exhibits and archives at the National Chornobyl Museum has taken place. During this time, specialists from the European Chornobyl Institute scanned over 1,000 exhibits and documents, which hold historical value today. This digital collection includes high-quality 3D models and document photographs of artifacts and exhibits, and it will now be accessible in an online archive for research.
However, the main feature of the CHORNOBYL X project is the creation of the first virtual tour at the National Chernobyl Museum for VR headsets based on digitized exhibits. Starting from November 1st, anyone can visit this virtual tour at the National Chernobyl Museum.
The innovative project CHORNOBYL X merges technology, culture, and history into a single space, providing an opportunity to explore the history of Chernobyl in a new light and changing the way we perceive history and cultural heritage.
Through the VR tour, museum visitors can not only view exhibits in virtual format but also hear their stories. The project includes a variety of content, ranging from exhibits in the museum's active collection to unique items from archival collections, such as documents, photographs, radiation maps, and more, which were previously not accessible to the wider audience. Visitors can even virtually visit the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone directly from the museum, even during times of martial law, thanks to the impressive realism of the VR tour.
This unique tour was developed by director Valeriy Korshunov, a filmmaker and researcher of Chernobyl's cultural heritage with over 5 years of experience in creating immersive projects on important social topics.