The Armchair Traveler: A Guide to Virtual Educational Opportunities
In recent years, museums and popular tourist attractions have increased their online presence. These efforts go beyond posting images or information about artifacts; many offer extensive interactive experiences, including virtual tours, interactive online exhibits, and live interaction with staff and even zoo animals. The pandemic has accelerated this trend as many attractions were forced to close their doors to the public due to health and safety restrictions.
Although no virtual experience can replace seeing a piece of artwork or historical relic in person, new virtual options do offer benefits of their own, which can be valuable assets for not only educators but anyone looking to explore worldwide culture from their armchair. One of the greatest advantages is that virtual experiences mean more places and sites to “visit.” You are no longer limited to the distances you have the time to travel or the money you have available to spend. An interactive exhibit can allow you to study an artwork or historical time period in a totally different way, often with more in-depth information than physically displayed in a museum. In this way, educators have more control over the experience to determine what they want students to learn or take away from the experience.
We created a guide to some of the best online experiences and virtual tours around the globe. Whether you’re looking for something to share with your students or for some family fun, these exhibits will show you the world—all from the comfort of your home.
ART TOURS
The Louvre | Paris, France
Perhaps the world’s most famous museum, the Louvre has made its entire collection—nearly 500,000 works of art—available for viewing online. The museum has a series of virtual, 360-degree tours of its exhibits to explore, as well as numerous videos and online exhibits specifically designed for children. You can even download a mobile app to explore the museum’s most famous painting, the Mona Lisa.
Van Gogh Museum | Amsterdam, Netherlands
View the largest online collection of artwork by one of the world’s greatest artists. The virtual tours include 200 paintings and over 500 drawings. You can even view hundreds of personal letters written through the course of Van Gogh’s life. The museum also offers downloadable apps and activities designed for children.
Other Art Museums with Online Offerings
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Picasso Museum, Barcelona, Spain
- Vatican Museums, Vatican City
HISTORY AROUND THE WORLD
Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian | Washington, D.C.
The Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian allows visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours. Explore dinosaur fossils, ancient Egypt, the Hope Diamond, and much more. In addition to high-definition interactive images, designated hot spots on the screen display pop-ups with additional information. Plus, you can browse exhibits no longer on physical display. If you prefer something more structured, narrated tours are also available.
naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
Google Lit Trips
Usually, one associates field trips with more hands-on subjects such as science. However, Google Lit Trips uses virtual field trips to enhance the study of literature. Google Earth powers immersive 3D literary field trips where students become virtual traveling companions to literary characters. As students explore, they find pop-up windows containing additional media, discussion starters, and information about real-world places mentioned in the stories. Choose from dozens of trips for students of all ages, including The Grapes of Wrath, Frankenstein, Macbeth, and much more. Google Lit Trips is also a great way to keep children interested in reading over the summer. Consider doing “a trip” once every other week with your family!
EXPLORING THE LIVING
Monterey Bay Aquarium | Monterey, California
Known for its incredible exhibits focusing on the unique aquatic ecosystem of Monterey Bay, the Monterey Bay Aquarium offers live cams where you can view sharks, otters, jellyfish, penguins, and more. Aquarium staff even offer narration during feedings. Dive in further by booking an “online discovery lab” in which an aquarium educator leads a 45-minute Zoom presentation on a marine or conservation topic.
Denver Zoo | Denver, Colorado
The Denver Zoo has online learning resources for both parents and educators designed to accommodate groups of different sizes. Take your experience to the next level by interacting with staff and animal ambassadors in private lessons, chatting with staff during virtual demonstrations, or engaging in online conservation activities.
denverzoo.org/virtual-classroom
United States Botanic Garden | Washington, D.C.
Established by the U.S. Congress in 1820, the U.S. Botanic Garden is the oldest continually operating botanical garden in the nation. The garden’s website offers virtual tours, online programs and plant spotlights, and at-home activities including coloring pages and lesson plans, videos, and more.
Other Zoo and Aquariums with Online Offerings
TEXAS FIELD TRIPS
For an in-person field trip that’s closer to home, check out these Texas options. Be sure to check their websites for updated information on each attraction’s COVID-19 safety protocols.
The El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center | El Paso
The El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center is the only fully bilingual Holocaust museum. The museum teaches the history of the Holocaust in order to combat prejudice and intolerance.
Bob Bullock Museum | Austin
The Bullock Museum features ever-changing exhibitions and unique programs that explore the history, culture, and science of Texas. The Bullock also offers a number of online options for viewing Texas artifacts online, listening to stories and podcasts, and exploring the timeline of Texas history.
Blanton Museum of Art | Austin
With more than 19,000 works in its collection, the Blanton showcases art from across the ages, from ancient Greek pottery to abstract expressionism.
African American Museum | Dallas
The African American Museum is the only one of its kind in the Southwest and is devoted to the preservation and display of African American artistic, cultural, and historical materials. It has one of the largest African American folk-art collections in the United States.
San Antonio Botanical Garden | San Antonio
The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a scenic, 38-acre area with trails, a pond, roses and native plants, a glass conservatory, and nature trails.
Houston Museum of Natural Science | Houston
Visitors can explore rainforests, other galaxies, the time of dinosaurs, and even see a show at the museum’s planetarium.
Space Center Houston | Houston
See interactive displays and NASA artifacts that tell the story of the space shuttle program.
Texas State Aquarium | Corpus Christi
The Texas State Aquarium features attractions that include a dolphin bay, aquatic life from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, birds, and much more.
Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum | Canyon
The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is the largest history museum in Texas with over 2 million artifacts from the region’s history. Learn about everything from dinosaurs to conquistadors to life in a pioneer town.
Author: Michael Spurlin