AI Shirley Avatar Answers History Questions at Oakley Cabin

The Oakley Cabin African American Museum in Brookeville features AI Shirley, a 3D artificial intelligence avatar that answers visitor questions about the cabin's history and the Black tenant families who lived there after the Civil War through the mid-1900s. Nine augmented reality experiences — created by XR Montgomery, Montgomery Parks, and the University of Maryland — allow visitors to view the cabin interior, place farm animals in outdoor spaces, and watch historical videos via QR codes on their smartphones. The experiences are available in seven languages and include closed captions; the cabin building itself is set to reopen for in-person tours in April 2026.