Developing a Digital History Project for Newport, Rhode Island: A Case Study of a Multimedia Tour and Place-Based Audio Storytelling

Abstract This case study explores the author’s use of techniques and processes associated with the digital humanities to research, create, and present a digital history project in Newport, Rhode Island. This is done by detailing and critically reflecting on the process of developing a multimedia tour and podcast episode based on the author’s original published research that investigated the role of music and social dancing during Newport’s emergence as a world-class resort in the Nineteenth Century. The multimedia tour featured in this case study makes use of digital location-based web and mobile application technologies to deliver a text and image-driven narrative with sonic enhancements augmenting the history. The podcast episode features place-based audio storytelling techniques which also enrich the understanding and potential reach of the subject. The multimedia tour and podcast episode in conjunction with the author’s original published research all work collectively to preserve Newport’s summer culture history. Some lessons learned include recognizing the advantages of utilizing established platforms, collaborating with experts, and embracing system constraints to optimize narrative focus.