“We must always listen to the smallest bells, for they are symbols of justice.”
— Queen Juliana of the Netherlands
This quote inspired Josephine Butler, the Washington, D.C. activist, to famously carry a small bell wherever she went. For Butler, the bell became a symbol of listening — to the people, to the environment, and to the urgent calls for justice all around her.*
Our augmented reality experience, created by students in the Emerging Media program of the Cinema and Television Arts Department at California State University, Northridge, brings Butler’s story to life in partnership with the 51 Steps to Freedom Museum. Through interactive storytelling built in Hoverlay, visitors can explore the enduring impact of her activism and the power of community in shaping change.
“It felt like I was really a part of the experience.”
- Diana
“It felt like a museum was brought to me.”
- Josh
“I really liked the feeling of walking around an
immersive setting.”
- Carson
*Source: Courtney C. Hobson, “To Live and Breathe: Women and Environmental Justice in Washington, D.C.”, The Public Historian, 46(1) (2024): 166-171.