Yorklyn museum among 3 in US to use new audio-tour technology

Audio tours at museums sound like a great idea but it’s rare that museums actually do them right. The technology can often seem daunting to some museums, which is why there’s a current push for changing the way audio tours are done.
The Marshall Steam Museum at Auburn Heights Preserve in Yorklyn, Del., is among the first three museums in the country to try Antenna’s new DIY audio tour technology. The other two participants are the Museum of American Finance and Museum Village in New York.
The technology is geared towards smaller museums that might have limited budgets, where a simple audio editing software is packaged with mobile audio devices and chargers to facilitate easy use on the go.
“The audio tour technology will allows us to try new things — to prototype and experiment with our content — and see how people respond,” said Marshall Steam Museum Executive Director Susan Randolph. “We love the flexibility — and why not use technology to help tell a story about technology?”
The museum debuted the new audio tours at its newest exhibit, “Letting Off Steam: The Stanley Legacy,” on Tuesday. The museum is open the first Sunday of every month between 12:30-4:30 p.m. with special hours during Steamin’ Days.

A museum-goer using the new technology. (Photo courtesy of Marshall Steam Museum)