The Newport Historical Society Partners with Lila Delman Real Estate to create Mobile Guidebook: “Explore Historic Newport”
Newport, RI – May 24, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — The Newport Historical Society is preparing to launch a web-based mobile app designed to help visitors take an annotated walk around the City’s historic streets—whether exploring by foot or surfing from their sofa. The Society has partnered with Lila Delman Real Estate, which is the Founding Sponsor of the app. Lila Delman Real Estate has been honored with preservation awards for the restoration of its Newport and Narragansett offices.
“As dedicated supporters of historic preservation, Lila Delman Real Estate is a natural partner in this project. We are delighted that through this technology Newport and its rich history will be even more readily recognized and available,” states Melanie Delman, President of Lila Delman Real Estate.
Entitled “Explore Historic Newport”, the app will work on any platform that accesses the web, such as a smart phone, tablet or desktop computer, and will be free. “We have spent this spring researching the history and choosing which sites to incorporate into the first phase of ‘Explore Historic Newport,’” states NHS Processing Archivist Stacie Parillo.
“Explore Historic Newport” will include Washington Square up to Bellevue Avenue, Catherine-Kay Streets and down to the waterfront of Long Wharf and the Point neighborhood. Users can learn about diverse sites such as the 1699 Great Friends Meeting House, the mid 18th century house where Ezra Stiles once lived and the early 20th century ballpark Cardine’s Field. Ultimately, it is expected that the mobile guide will encompass the entire City.
“Unlike a traditional walking tour that follows a designated route, mobile users do not need to walk in any particular order,” Parillo explains. “The app uses GPS-enabled interactive maps. It pinpoints where a user is standing and orients them to historic sites nearby. It’s like a historical guidebook with pictures from the NHS collections that show how exciting Newport history really is.”
To offset additional development costs, the Society is launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise $10,000 in 45 days. Pledges range from $10 to $1,000 and include gifts at each level. Donations can be made at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nhs/explore-historic-newport.
“History is a powerful tool,” states Ruth Taylor, the Society’s Executive Director. “It is also a source for education, heritage tourism, and much more. The Newport Historical Society is making history more accessible to more people. A pledge to our Kickstarter campaign helps tell the story of Newport’s role in American history in a unique and exciting way to a very broad audience.”
“Explore Historic Newport” is the city’s first history app tour made available to the public by a Newport cultural institution. It is scheduled to launch in late June or early July.
About the Newport Historical Society
Since 1854, the Newport Historical Society has collected and preserved the artifacts, photographs, documents, publications, and genealogical records that relate to the history of Newport County, to make these materials readily available for both research and enjoyment, and to act as a resource center for the education of the public about the history of Newport County, so that knowledge of the past may contribute to a fuller understanding of the present. For more information please visit www.NewportHistory.org.
About Lila Delman Real Estate
Lila Delman founded the company’s original office in Narragansett nearly 50 years ago. Since then, Lila Delman Real Estate has grown to include 6 strategically located offices, over 100 REALTORS®, a marketing department that creatively uses online social media, and an award winning website. As an exclusive marketing partner of Christie’s International Real Estate, Mayfair International Realty and Luxury Portfolio, the firm is consistently a frontrunner in the luxury market. For more information please visit www.LilaDelman.com
