For Immediate Release March 14, 2008
Company Contact Agency Contact
Tim Burke Dan O’Keeffe
Electronic Art LLC O’Keeffe Communications
(513) 321-1771 (513) 221-1526
tburke@electronicart.com dan@okeeffecom.com
Electronic Art Develops Kiosks for Statewide Ohio Underground Railroad Tourism Initiative
“Passage to Freedom” Features New Web site Linked to Site-based Interactive Kiosks
CINCINNATI, OH—Electronic Art (www.ElectronicArt.com), an interactive agency specializing in custom kiosk software, kiosk hardware, and integrated Web sites, is providing kiosks and custom-designed software to support the “Passage to Freedom” program, a series of kiosks to be placed at or near Ohio Underground Railroad sites. The kiosks feature a new Web site created to showcase Ohio’s Underground Railroad sites and aid visitors in their travels. The campaign is the result of a collaboration between The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Ohio Department of Development’s Division of Tourism, and American Express.
The program, the first of its kind covering an entire state, features the “Passage to Freedom” Web site, www.passagetofreedomohio.com, where visitors can access detailed information about Ohio Underground Railroad sites and other local attractions. The Web site will link to a network of interactive kiosks that will be located in former Underground Railroad communities around the state to provide visitors with regional travel information.
Ohio Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher hailed “Passage to Freedom” as “an unprecedented commitment by the State of Ohio to promote its rich history to today’s traveling public, especially those who desire to know more about the courageous path to freedom taken by thousands of enslaved men, women, and children prior to the Civil War.”
Fisher added that by promoting Underground Railroad historic sites, “Passage to Freedom” will also help spur regional economic development. “Many Underground Railroad sites were in small towns and rural settlements, while others were in more heavily traveled areas,” he said. “This plan will help bring public attention – and tourist spending – to the lesser known sites as well as the prominent ones.”
The first three kiosks will be located in Oberlin (at the Oberlin Inn), Zanesville (at the Zanesville Visitor Center) and in Ripley (at the Public Library) – each with several important Underground Railroad sites in their immediate vicinity. Kiosks will be placed at three additional sites later in the year.
The interactive kiosks at selected Ohio Underground Railroad sites will enable visitors to access detailed information about the site and its history using touch screen interfaces, simple navigation, and focused content. Customized maps printed from the kiosk will enable travelers to seek out interesting, yet often overlooked regional attractions, as well as nearby restaurants, hotel accommodations, churches and other essential information.
Each kiosk will be linked to the Web site and constantly updated with the latest information about local and regional events, such as fairs, arts and cultural festivities, and children’s activities. The kiosks will also offer details about other Underground Railroad locations within easy driving distance.
For more information about Electronic Art LLC, contact Tim Burke at (513) 321-1771 or tburke@electronicart.com, or visit www.ElectronicArt.com.
About Electronic Art
Electronic Art (www.ElectronicArt.com) is a Cincinnati-based interactive agency specializing in custom kiosk software, kiosk hardware, and integrated Web sites. Electronic Art is providing strategic consulting while developing the Web site and custom locally fabricated kiosks for the Passage To Freedom project.
About the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Located on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, the Freedom Center celebrates the legacy of courage and multicultural cooperation embodied in the story of the Underground Railroad. The museum uses a wide array of exhibits and programs to educate the public about the historic and continuing struggle to establish universal freedom in both the U.S. and around the world. For additional information, visit www.freedomcenter.org.
About the Ohio Tourism Division
As part of the Ohio Department of Development, the Division’s mission is to enhance Ohio’s economy by marketing the State’s unique travel and tourism opportunities and quality of life attributes. The Ohio Tourism Division is the premier source of information for travelers interested in engaging in Ohio’s vibrant tourism experiences. With an emphasis on family travel and multicultural experiences, Ohio offers travelers the ability to experience, first hand, the accomplishments of Ohioans who shaped and revolutionized the United States. From heroic Underground Railroad conductors to pioneers of aviation and space and ancient American Indian mounds to homes of U.S. Presidents, Ohio offers a wealth of sites that bring the stories of history and monumental achievements of Ohioans to life. Ohio travel information and publications are available online from www.DiscoverOhio.com or by calling 1-800-BUCKEYE.
About American Express
American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850. American Express Philanthropy makes grants in three major program areas: Cultural Heritage, Economic Independence and Community Service.
###