Kentucky Black Trailblazers
Commissioned by six Kentucky counties, the Kentucky Black Trailblazers Experience is a groundbreaking initiative honoring the extraordinary contributions of local Black historical figures. Developed by Tactic for ShelbyKY Tourism, this project utilizes cutting-edge Augmented Reality (AR) to transform public history into an immersive, place-based storytelling journey.
Under the creative direction of ShelbyKY Tourism, Tactic partnered with Metastage and Director Sean Frank to produce 19 interactive experiences across the state. Using "volumetric capture" technology, the app faithfully integrates real actor performances into the physical environment. Visitors activate these vivid encounters by scanning QR codes on local signage, bridging the gap between the past and the present.
This innovative approach celebrates Kentucky’s rich cultural heritage through emerging technology, creating a powerful, personal connection to the region’s history while inspiring future generations. It is a vital step in preserving the legacies of those who shaped the Bluegrass State.
At its core, the project demonstrates how augmented and mixed reality can make history feel immediate and alive at a meaningful public scale. Through live-action holographic video and location-based storytelling, the experience invites new audiences to engage with important stories that may otherwise remain overlooked, showing the unique power of creative technology as a medium for education, remembrance, and discovery.
The creative process behind the project was shaped by a strong sense of responsibility to tell these stories with care, emotional truth, and respect. In developing the performances and narrative moments, the team approached each historical figure not simply as a subject of interpretation, but as a person whose legacy deserved thoughtful and authentic representation. The result is a culturally meaningful experience centered on honoring unsung heroes and deepening public understanding of the Black experience in Kentucky history.
