You Are There: That Ayres Look

 The Indiana Historical Society will soon debut a new concept in storytelling with You Are There: That Ayres Look. Following the success of the IHS Press publication L.S. Ayres & Company: The Store at the Crossroads of America, written by Kenneth L. Turchi, IHS was inspired to present a significant museum exhibit about a major American urban department store. Urban department stores were a feature of the late 19th and 20th-century cities. Today, there are still many people connected to L.S. Ayres who lived the story, which presents a tremendous opportunity to capture their experiences as part of the exhibit. Guests will literally step through an image of the iconic Ayres department store clock, which is projected on a fog screen. Then, through augmented reality, they will witness its 1936 installation by two workmen through augmented reality technology. The subsequent 1,200-square-foot gallery will feature historical photographs, documents, artifacts and videos to provide a multi-faceted illustration of the company, its people and its innovations. While in the gallery, visitors may interact with costumed actors representing historical characters from the company’s past. Guests will learn about the early growth of the company, the family behind it, the company culture that fostered a high level of customer service, innovation and respect for its employees; the dynamic environment where cutting-edge ideas were developed; the lasting memories L.S. Ayres made for people during the holidays; and the Ayr-Way off-shoot that was a forerunner of future discount retailers. New technology will virtually “dress” display mannequins on monitors so visitors will be able to witness ever-changing fashion, patterns, colors, hemlines and silhouettes. IHS is also creating videos that share the Ayres stories in a series of films celebrating the business, the family, the fashions and the shopping experience. Additional interactives will also be available for guests. A note about the augmented reality: Guests will experience a recreation of the installation of the iconic clock in 1936 using a half-scale replica of the well-known downtown landmark plus innovated augmented reality technology. When the guest points one of the provided iPads at the clock model, a video will begin to play, giving the illusion that the user is viewing the workers inside the exhibit space.