By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Old World Wisconsin is preserving the past while parlaying into the future.
Last week, representatives from the venerable organization made the entire campus of buildings and exhibits available to Google staff as the Internet giant continues to increase its online mapping features.
In the near future, every facet of Old World Wisconsin will be depicted through Google Maps with a few simple keystrokes. Images will be added to the street-view features on the popular website.
“This allows us to connect with today’s visitors in a facet that they’re used to,” Old World Wisconsin spokesperson Lisa McGovern said.
Using its proprietary software, Google staff used company vehicles – known within the organization as street-view cars – that are equipped with specialized cameras. The devices, mounted on the top, take photos as the vehicle drives down a street or path.
Google staff and the company vehicle were on the Old World Wisconsin grounds for a few hours Sept. 17.
Once the images are uploaded to Google Maps, web users will have an opportunity to receive a quick glimpse late 19th Century immigrant and rural living in Wisconsin with 21st Century technology.
McGovern said the company approached Old World Wisconsin with the opportunity.
“We were delighted when they asked,” she said. “We’re trying to meet guests’ needs in any way possible, and this is another opportunity.”
Once Old World Wisconsin is added to Google Maps, web users will be able to take a virtual tour of the grounds – a bonus, McGovern said, for anyone looking to get a full idea of the lay of the land.
“People have such a curiosity, and this will provide the full scope of what we have,” McGovern said. “Few people know we have over 600 acres, and this will give them a better of sense of just how expansive Old World Wisconsin is.”
According to a Google spokesperson, photographs taken in the company’s specialized vehicles go through a series of computer processing steps that include blurring peoples’ faces, legible license plates and other data that could be deemed sensitive.
For this reason, there is a lag time between a Google representative’s visit and the actual uploading of the images to the company’s website. The entire process takes several months.
Old World Wisconsin, located outside Eagle, includes a number of exhibits – some depicted with actors – throughout its sprawling campus. Among the features are replicas of 10 working farmsteads, a dozen heirloom gardens and information on various animal breeds of the time, as well as popular crafts and trades.
The grounds are open seasonally, from May 1 to Oct. 31, but the Google Map features will be featured year-round.
