Jersey City Launches Augmented Reality History Tour
Artist Trish Gianakis debuted an interactive waterfront exhibition celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Cultural
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Artist Trish Gianakis launched an augmented reality historical tour along two miles of the Jersey City waterfront on July 4, 2026. The exhibition, which runs through June 30, 2027, utilizes digital overlays to immerse visitors in local and national history.
Why it matters
The project uses emerging technology to blend physical landscapes with invisible historical layers, celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary. It highlights local landmarks and past events by making digital narratives accessible to the public through mobile devices.
The exhibition covers a two-mile stretch between Black Tom Island and Liberty Terminal and includes works by 20 distinct artists. Visitors can trigger these digital experiences via QR codes, including a 360-degree view inside the Statue of Liberty's crown.
The players
Trish Gianakis
Trish Gianakis is the artist who developed the augmented reality tour using funding from a university Kenny Fellowship research grant.
Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University is a local institution featured in the tour via a digital timeline detailing its institutional history.
The details
Visitors scan QR codes or follow link paths to trigger animations that overlay digital content onto the physical environment. The tour features interactive reenactments of the 1779 Battle of Paulus Hook and a digital timeline documenting the history of Saint Peter's University.
Timeline
The 1779 Battle of Paulus Hook is highlighted through digital reenactments.
Artist Trish Gianakis held a residency at BronxNet from 2022 to 2024.
The augmented reality tour officially launched on July 4, 2026.
The exhibition is scheduled to continue through June 30, 2027.
Industry Dynamics
The project follows a growing trend of using augmented reality to modernize cultural heritage tourism and public art installations. It aligns with the national goals of the America 250 anniversary commemorations by engaging the public with digital historical interpretations.
Residents and tourists can explore the two-mile waterfront exhibit for free by using their own smartphones to trigger the digital content. The augmented reality experiences are available on demand by scanning QR codes located at various points along the tour route.
The takeaway
Using augmented reality allows residents to visualize historical events directly where they occurred. Visitors should bring a fully charged smartphone and data connection to fully engage with the various interactive landmarks along the route.
Further reading
Explore more local arts and history initiatives on our Cultural section page.
More information
To access the digital content or view specific site locations, visit the tour information and interactive experiences.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New Jersey Hills.
Live Poll
Does using augmented reality make visiting historical sites in your area more engaging?
