Charlotte Museum Launches High-Tech Revolutionary War Exhibit with Augmented Reality

The new American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition features interactive portals and HistoPad tablets to bring key moments to life.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:53am

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A high-contrast silkscreen print in bold neon colors depicting a repeating pattern of an 18th century colonial musket, conceptually representing the immersive technology of the Charlotte Museum's new Revolutionary War exhibit.The Charlotte Museum's new augmented reality exhibit brings the American Revolution to life with interactive technology, allowing visitors to witness pivotal moments in vivid detail.Charlotte Today

The Charlotte Museum of History is opening a new high-tech exhibit called American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition on April 14. The exhibit features augmented reality technology and more than 20 interactive portals covering events from 1763 to 1789, allowing visitors to witness pivotal moments like the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Yorktown, and the signing of the Declaration of Independence come to life.

Why it matters

This cutting-edge exhibit is a major coup for the Charlotte Museum, which is typically a 'sleepy' regional institution. Securing exclusive Southeast regional rights for one year puts the museum on par with large national institutions like the Smithsonian and The Met in offering this type of immersive, technology-driven historical experience.

The details

Visitors will use HistoPad tablets to activate the augmented reality portals throughout the 5,000-square-foot first floor exhibit space. The portals recreate key Revolutionary War moments with 3D animations, movement, and sound. The exhibit also includes a gallery focused on the Carolinas' role in the war, with portals detailing events like the Battle of Kings Mountain and the Battle of Charlotte.

  • The American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition opens on April 14, 2026.
  • The exhibit will run through April 2027 at the Charlotte Museum of History.

The players

Charlotte Museum of History

A regional museum in Charlotte, North Carolina that is hosting the new high-tech Revolutionary War exhibit.

Terri White

The CEO and president of the Charlotte Museum of History, who called the new exhibit 'a defining moment' for the institution.

Museum of the American Revolution

A museum in Philadelphia that partnered with the Charlotte Museum to develop the American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition.

Histovery

A French firm that designed the augmented reality installation for the exhibit.

Nolan Dahm

The historian and exhibits manager at the Charlotte Museum who worked with the Catawba Indian Nation to create a 1763 encampment display for the exhibit.

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What they’re saying

“This is the type of exhibit you see at large institutions like the Smithsonian and The Met. For a sleepy museum like us to have it is a really big deal.”

— Terri White, CEO and president, Charlotte Museum of History

What’s next

The traveling American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition will visit other cities through 2031 with a goal of reaching all 50 states.

The takeaway

The Charlotte Museum's new high-tech Revolutionary War exhibit represents a significant investment and a bold move to bring cutting-edge technology and immersive experiences to a regional museum. This type of innovation can help smaller institutions compete with major national museums and attract new audiences.