SAVVY TECH TO TAKE CENTENNIAL TRAIL USER BACK IN HISTORY

Snohomish County will receive nearly $100,000 to complete a multimedia interpretive exhibit using modern technology to depict the history of the Centennial Trail. Following a statewide competition, The Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation has awarded Snohomish County’s Office of Economic Development $99,080 for its proposal “PASTforward, A journey along the Centennial Trail.” As one of the region’s most popular attractions, the Centennial Trail is used by more than 520,000 people annually. The PASTforward project will use smartphones, droid platforms, QR tags and interactive websites to connect trail users to significant historical points of interest that dot the former railway along 23 miles of constructed trail. “Imagine scanning a QR tag on the Centennial Trail and then immediately being linked to historical photos of rail construction in the late 1800s,” Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon said. “Learning about the trail just became more interesting and fun.  We’re honoring our past using thoroughly innovative technology.” “The Centennial Trail boasts historically significant locations, including original Native American trade and migration routes, a Japanese internment farmland confiscation site and early pioneer rail locales,” said Snohomish County Councilman Brian Sullivan. “It’s important that we use modern methods of communication to connect people to their history.” The entire project, which includes using repurposed roadway signs for interpretive signage and creating a new interactive website, will be completed by the end of 2011. The county will be crafting an RFP for technological services in the coming weeks. For more information, contact Project lead Wendy Becker, Snohomish County’s Economic and Cultural Development Officer, at wendy.becker@snoco.org or 425-388-3186.