Google's virtual tour revives Brazil's National Museum after fire

Google has launched a virtual tour of the National Museum of Brazil, which was devastated by a fire in September 2018. The tour uses Museum View technology, similar to Google Street View, to allow 360-degree exploration of many rooms. It includes detailed informational cards and features highlights such as Luzia, the oldest skeleton found in the Americas; 3,000-year-old Brazilian ceramics; and a collection of endangered butterflies and moths. The collaboration between Google and the museum began in 2016, and the photographic materials captured then were used to create the virtual experience. The fire destroyed an estimated 92.5% of the museum's collection, which comprised over 20 million objects, making this digital reconstruction a significant cultural preservation effort.