What if you could explore an Oklahoma historic site from anywhere in the world and interact with its buildings, landscape, and history in three dimensions?
A multidisciplinary University of Oklahoma team is making that possible at the Fort Gibson Historic Site.
Through DISC seed funding, Brandi Bethke and co-investigators Amanda Regnier, Joey Williams, and Kristi Wyatt brought together expertise from the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, Classics and Letters, and OU Libraries to develop “The Digital Frontier: Fort Gibson as a Model for Virtual Heritage in Oklahoma.”
The team used drone-based 3D photogrammetry to digitally document five structures and foundations at Fort Gibson, including the reconstructed stockade, Sutler’s Store, and Bake House. These high-resolution models provide a lasting digital record of the site and can also help site curators identify damage and monitor structural changes over time. The models are hosted in the University Libraries 3D Library (UL3DL) and serve as a foundation for additional digital interpretation tools.
But the project goes beyond digital preservation. The team integrated the 3D models with archaeological research, archival records, historical research, and interactive mapping to create an ESRI StoryMap that allows users to explore Fort Gibson virtually. The experience helps users understand the site's layered histories, including the Trail of Tears, Removal-era treaty negotiations, the Civil War, Buffalo Soldier occupation, twentieth-century preservation efforts, and ongoing archaeological investigations.
The project also provides a model for expanding virtual heritage efforts across Oklahoma. The team envisions applying this approach to other historic and archaeological sites while developing educational resources for K–12 classrooms.
The work continues beyond the seed award. The researchers plan to add historic photographs, 3D scans of archaeological artifacts, and additional site documentation while pursuing external funding to expand the project. They are also working with historians and educators to develop resources that bring Oklahoma's history to broader audiences.
What began as a seed-funded project is becoming a foundation for a broader vision: using technology to preserve Oklahoma's past while creating new ways for people to experience, explore, and learn from it.
Explore the Fort Gibson 3D Model Collection: Fort Gibson 3D Model Collection.
To view the StoryMap: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/73b604a8291d40998e4a2b75f8b79253
