A city-scale augmented reality experience that reframes New York City as the heart of the American Revolution will be available for free on phones.
Picture it: New York, 1776. The British began their harsh, 7-year occupation of Manhattan, fighting the American colonists who wanted nothing but freedom and independence from the tyrannical King George.
For the next two years, bloodshed in the name of liberty permeates the streets of New York City. A fire breaks out in Lower Manhattan, destroying buildings and homes, including the original Trinity Church. Whether it was done deliberately by British troops, no one knows. Battles between the British and Americans rage throughout the city.
Much of Manhattan’s population flees during the fight as the island swells with Redcoats and loyalist refugees. , after which the country was free of all rule except its own. The war ended in 1783, leaving behind remnants, landmarks, and artifacts that still exist today in Lower Manhattan.
As America gets ready to celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4, modern technology is being used to inform New Yorkers, Americans, and people of all ages what the fight was about. The Gotham Center for NYC History at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center, in collaboration with video-game and tech creators Ubisoft and Sugar Cretive, made a 90-minute walking tour that people can follow digitally in Lower Manhattan to learn about the freedom fight.
, the app will launch later this month in time for July 4. It will be available for both iOS and Android.
First, users must download the app, and then follow an hour-and-a-half walking tour through Lower Manhattan, where much of the American Revolution occurred. As they visit historic sites such as Bowling Green, where soldiers and civilians tore down a statue of the British King, and the famous Federal Hall, the app uses augmented reality and geolocation technology to overlay a digitally reconstructed colonial New York onto today’s streets.
This allows users to view scenes from the American Revolution and learn about the city’s founding history at the exact locations where they occurred. Imagine being about to see how George Washington enjoyed dinner with his officers and held secret meetings with the Sons of Liberty at Fraunces Tavern?used abandoned ships to house prisoners of war? The experience is not only about the technology, however.
It’s about preserving history, according to the experts involved.
“New York City has long deserved a ‘freedom trail’ to spotlight its centrality in the American Revolution. But now thanks to Ubisoft and Sugar Creative, we can give people a rich visual and experiential sense of what it was like to live through this harrowing, inspiring, dramatic, and foundational moment in history,” said Peter Aigner, director of The Gotham Center for New York City History at the CUNY Graduate Center.
Ubisoft used the worlds of its Assassin’s Creed video games to create the new app. Sugar Creative, based in Wales, often works with museums and cultural institutions to provide immersive storytelling.
“Projects of this ambition depend entirely on the quality of the people you work with. We’ve been fortunate to find in Gotham Center and Ubisoft partners who care as much about getting it right as we do. It’s a source of real pride that it’s a Welsh studio helping to bring New York’s revolutionary story back to life,” said Jason Veal, managing director of Sugar Creative.
Meanwhile, coinciding with America’s 250th birthday, CUNY’s Gotham Center for New York City partnered with the Museum of the City of New York for the exhibit, “Barbara Russo-Lennon is the transit reporter at amNewYork. She covers news about NYC’s public transportation system, roads, waterways and other topics related to transit in the Big Apple.
Free World Cup Final watch party: 50,000 tickets available for Central Park eventJosh Hart remains Knicks’ NBA Finals ‘x-factor’ despite slow start Knicks fever: Trump’s attendance at NBA Finals Game 3 means ‘no access’ to MSG for those without tickets, NYPD and Secret Service saysKnicks fever: Trump’s attendance at NBA Finals Game 3 means ‘no access’ to MSG for those without tickets, NYPD and Secret Service says
Please follow us on Google to support usUnited States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Stars Rang in the 2026 Tony Awards at CAA’s New York PartyCreative Artists Agency took over Crane Club for their annual Tonys weekend party with Lorne Michaels, Neil Patrick Harris, Anderson Cooper, Luke Evans and more.
Read more »
Donald Trump, Knicks fan, heads back to New York to root on his teamNEW YORK (AP) — There was a time when Donald Trump was just another celebrity sitting courtside at New York Knicks games. He was famous, but not yet flanked
Read more »
Donald Trump, Knicks fan, heads back to New York to root on his teamDonald Trump plans to be back at Madison Square Garden in New York to watch Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs
Read more »
Love Island USA Returns for New Season with New Contestants and New DramaLove Island USA has returned for its new season with a new group of contestants vying for a $100,000 prize. The show's format remains the same, with contestants coupling up to stay in the luxury villa and earning a shot at the prize. However, the show's host, Ariana Madix, has had to issue a message to viewers reminding them to be kind and respectful in their reactions to the show. The show's producers have also taken steps to ensure the contestants' safety and well-being, including reminding viewers not to contact the contestants' families or doxx them.
Read more »