Full Breakdown
Unhidden Heroines: Smithsonian’s AR Initiative Bridges Museum Gap on the National Mall
6/24/2026, 12:16:21 PM
Legislative Setback and Museum’s Status
In May 2026 the U.S. House of Representatives rejected the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act, a bill that would have designated a permanent site for the museum on the National Mall. Republican amendments removed language protecting transgender women’s inclusion in exhibitions and granted President Donald Trump veto authority over the location. The museum, authorized by Congress in December 2020, therefore remains without a physical building while its mandate to expand women’s history persists.
AR Launch on the National Mall
On 23 June 2026 the museum unveiled “Unhidden Heroines,” a free augmented-reality (AR) experience that runs through 31 December 2026. Using geolocation, visitors point a smartphone or tablet at five National Mall monuments to trigger four-part interactive narratives. The experience is also available remotely via unhidden-heroines.com, with a non-interactive version for broader access.
Design and Content of the Experience
The project, created by Goodby Silverstein & Partners with 3D work by Current Studios and illustrations by Believe, spotlights five trailblazing women:
- Polly Cooper – Oneida ally of George Washington, paired with the Washington Monument.
- Julia Ward Howe – Author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” shown at the Lincoln Memorial.
- Dorothy Height – Civil-rights activist dubbed the “Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement,” featured at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
- Elizebeth Smith Friedman – WWII codebreaker, linked to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial.
- Mary Katharine Goddard – Printer of the first signed Declaration of Independence, displayed at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
Claire Stokes, associate creative director, emphasized that the 3D figures were rendered “monument-sized—larger than life” to match the stature of adjacent male monuments. The experience gamifies discovery: users collect hidden artefacts across the two-mile loop for a final reward.
Visitor Experience and Reach
The National Mall attracts more than 36 million visitors annually, providing a high-visibility platform for the museum’s narratives. While the AR content is optimized for on-site use, it can be accessed anywhere with an internet-connected device. Physical QR codes are absent at the monuments, requiring prior awareness of the project.
Official Statements & Responses
Museum leadership stressed that the AR rollout “provides a way to be on the Mall in a virtual way” while a permanent location is pending. The institution frames the initiative as a test of programming interest and a means to deliver information in formats audiences prefer. It also reiterates that the museum’s mission—to integrate women’s history into the broader American story—remains unchanged despite congressional setbacks.
Criticism & Opposition
Republican lawmakers’ amendments to the museum’s authorizing legislation have been cited as a primary obstacle, notably the exclusion of transgender women from future exhibitions and the insertion of a presidential veto clause. Critics argue these changes undermine the museum’s inclusive mandate.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the timeline for a physical museum, with estimates ranging from “a decade” to an unspecified future date. Additionally, the lack of on-site QR codes creates a gap between the AR experience’s design and its practical accessibility for spontaneous visitors.
Verbatim Quotes
- “While we’re waiting to get our location on the Mall, this is a great way for us to be on the Mall in a virtual way.” — Melanie Adams, interim director
- “Women’s history is American history,” — Melanie Adams, interim director
- “In designing the 3D women for the experience, it was important that they appear monument-sized—larger than life—with the same presence and stature as the men’s monuments they’re alongside,” — Claire Stokes, associate creative director, Goodby Silverstein & Partners
- “We are telling the often-untold stories of women and making sure that their history is at the forefront and being included.” — Melanie Adams, interim director
- “This experience is truly representative of our museum’s mission to expand the story of America through the often-untold accounts and accomplishments of women and a prime example of how we are prioritizing innovative programming,” — Melanie Adams, interim director
- “We hope witnessing the transformative contributions of these women in a place of such significance will inspire all Americans to envision the powerful stories the museum will tell in this same space, as we progress toward opening our permanent home on the National Mall.” — Melanie Adams, interim director
What’s Next
The museum continues negotiations with Congress to secure a permanent Mall site while monitoring visitor engagement data from the AR project. “Unhidden Heroines” will remain available online until the end of 2026, after which the museum plans to leverage the experience’s insights for future exhibitions and educational programs.
