The Historic New Orleans Collection brings world heritage to life with a 360-degree augmented reality immersion into the 850-year history of Notre-Dame Cathedral and its ongoing restoration in the aftermath of the tragic fire of April 15, 2019. Notre-Dame de Paris is designed and produced by Histovery, a French technology firm, in collaboration with the Public Institution in Charge of the Conservation and Restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, and with the sponsorship of L’Oréal Groupe.

This visually stunning experience joins other interactive technology on display at The Historic New Orleans Collection’s state-of-the-art new exhibition center at 520 Royal Street. Visitors will navigate Notre-Dame de Paris through the ages by using a HistoPad™, an augmented reality touch-screen tablet developed by Histovery. The handheld device transports visitors back in time through its immersive, interactive reconstructions. Visitors will observe builders and craftspeople laying the first stones in the Middle Ages, witness the coronation of Emperor Napoleon I in 1804, see the iconic spire designed by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc being erected during the mid-19th-century restoration, look on as the Paris Fire Brigade battles the 2019 blaze, and watch current workers in action as they reconstruct this architectural masterpiece.

The exhibition’s emphasis on the restoration of the cathedral aligns with The Historic New Orleans Collection’s ongoing work to restore and maintain Vieux Carré buildings and steward them for future generations. As proud host of Notre-Dame de Paris, we pay tribute to our region’s French roots while embracing the promise of technological innovation to explore the many layers of history.