As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, a new augmented reality experience is inviting visitors to explore a part of Boston’s history that is often left out of traditional accounts.
White Snake Projects has launched INDIGENOUS STORIES: An AR Experience in Boston and along the Freedom Trail, a free, self-guided walking tour that uses virtual performances, music, historical narratives and digital artifacts to highlight the city’s Native American history.
Available through Dec. 31, the 1.2-mile experience begins at the Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion on Long Wharf and ends at Boston Common. Along the route, users visit six historic locations connected to the experiences of Indigenous people in Boston and Massachusetts.
The project was developed in partnership with the North American Indian Center of Boston and features original music and lyrics by Wampanoag, Nipmuc and other Native American artists living in Massachusetts.
The first stop explores the history of Deer Island during King Philip’s War, when hundreds of Indigenous people were imprisoned there, with many dying, being forced from their homes or sold into slavery. The performance at the Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion is by Aquinnah Wampanoag vocalist Thea Hopkins.
At Faneuil Hall, the tour examines the institution of slavery in Boston, including the enslavement of Native Americans. The experience also explores the history of Peter Faneuil and the role of slave-trade proceeds in financing the construction of the landmark.
Other stops examine the Boston Massacre site, the 1755 Phips Bounty Proclamation, and the former site of the Odeon Theatre, where Pequot activist William Apess delivered his Eulogy on King Philip in 1836.
The final stop at Boston Common focuses on the Great Elm, a tree historically associated with Puritan-era hangings, including the execution of Native Americans. The tour also addresses the Indian Exclusion Act, which barred Indigenous residents from living within Boston city limits during King Philip’s War.
Each location features a written narrative and an approximately three-minute original musical performance created by Native artists. The AR format allows participants to encounter these stories while physically walking through the places where the history unfolded.
White Snake Projects Artistic Director Cerise Lim Jacobs said the project is intended to add an Indigenous perspective to the national conversation surrounding the 250th anniversary.
The initiative is part of White Snake Projects’ broader 2026 commitment to Indigenous-led performances and programming, including new music, recitals and the Indigenous Directory for Musical Storytelling, an online platform designed to increase visibility and opportunities for Native American arts professionals.
With INDIGENOUS STORIES, Boston’s familiar landmarks become entry points to a more expansive account of the city’s past.