Uniting People, Places and Stories
The Pioneer Zephyr: An Idea for the Ages
The Pioneer Zephyr was the first streamlined, diesel-powered train and it wowed the USA in 1934 with its daring “Dawn to Dusk Run.”
How do you light a mirror-polished object? The West Wind Vista immersive media element puts the Zephyr in dramatic, playful motion – racing along with other streamlined vehicles and Art Deco objects of design.
This updated exhibit allows visitors to board the train freely, welcoming their exploration with a spirit of streamlined service.
Black railroad workers’ oral histories tell of their experiences, including the inequality of opportunity in their workplace on wheels.
Dramatic and immersive media pieces infuse the gallery with motion, excitement and emphasize the changing times this train symbolized. The design legacy of the Zephyr’s Streamline Moderne exterior foreshadowed later aerodynamic designs.
Interactive moments illuminate the structure and function of this groundbreaking train, fusing 20th century technology and lived experience.
PROCESS
A main goal of the project was to allow guests of all abilities the chance to experience the inside of the train, through direct access, images or tactile elements.
All of the content sections, structures and interactives were group-brainstormed in an EXPO-marker-fueled bout of decision making at the whiteboard. It didn't look pretty, but this got us off to a great start.