Santa Fe Trail Center Museum and Research Library

The Santa Fe Trail Center Museum and Research Library will lead Bringing the Prairie to Life: An Immersive Pioneer Experience in collaboration with local scholars, educators, and community partners. This project addresses the need to bring the rich history of Pawnee County and the American frontier to life for visitors of all ages. The project will install durable outdoor interpretive panels equipped with QR codes, linking visitors to immersive day-in-the-life digital experiences. Artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted tools will support the creation of historically grounded, first-person narratives developed with local scholars to ensure accuracy and authenticity. Other project activities include script development, historical review, media production, panel design, fabrication, and installation, followed by public launch and promotion. The project will benefit regional residents, K-12 students, educators, and heritage tourists traveling through central Kansas.