Smithsonian women's museum launches AR experience after congressional setback

The Smithsonian American Women's History Museum has introduced 'Unhidden Heroines', an augmented reality experience located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, which will be available until December 31. This launch follows the US House of Representatives' recent rejection of a bill aimed at establishing a physical location for the museum, amidst ongoing debates over transgender inclusion and presidential veto authority. The AR initiative highlights five pioneering American women—Dorothy Height, Julia Ward Howe, Mary Katharine Goddard, Elizebeth Smith Friedman, and Polly Cooper—whose narratives can be explored through mobile devices at designated monuments. Created by Goodby, Silverstein and Partners, the experience showcases these women as larger-than-life figures alongside existing male statues. Interim director Melanie Adams stated that this project enables virtual engagement with visitors while the museum awaits a permanent site. Authorized by Congress in 2020, alongside the National Museum of the American Latino, the museum has primarily functioned online. The AR experience is free and can also be accessed remotely, with a non-interactive version offered. Adams affirmed that the setback in Congress has not changed the museum's commitment to sharing women's stories.