How Michigan Heroes Museum Transformed Visitor Engagement with
a Self-Guided Tour App
July 14, 2025
The Challenge
Static Tools, Limited Reach
Michigan Heroes Museum, the only U.S. museum dedicated solely to veterans and astronauts from a single state, wanted to bring its mission to life in a more interactive way.
But like many small museums, it faced familiar constraints:
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Limited engagement: Static signage and printed materials were only telling part of the story of the heroes featured in the museum
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Minimal digital presence: The museum had no way to showcase exhibits beyond its walls
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Lack of data: Programming was based on staff assumptions, not real visitor behavior
Why Driftscape
With no dedicated IT team and limited staff capacity, the museum needed a tool that was easy to implement, maintain, and scale.
Driftscape offered:
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A mobile tour platform that transformed exhibits into interactive, self-guided museum tours
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Real-time updates and push notifications for timely visitor communication
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A map-based interface that encouraged exploration before, during, and after visits
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A visitor analytics dashboard that delivered actionable insights
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Hands-on onboarding and content setup support from Driftscape’s team
How Driftscape Helped
Interactive Map Integration
The museum embedded Driftscape’s map into its website, allowing guests to preview exhibits and plan their visit.
Self-Guided Digital Tours
Visitors accessed audio tours at their own pace, featuring:
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First-person stories of Michigan’s service members
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Multilingual support for accessibility and broader reach
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Location-based activation near physical exhibits
Collaborative Onboarding & Content Setup
With guidance from Driftscape, the museum team launched quickly and confidently:
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Content entry was streamlined to reduce staff workload
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No technical expertise was required
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Support included training, template guidance, and quality assurance
Visitor Analytics Dashboard
Driftscape’s dashboard gave the museum:
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Insights on which exhibits received the most interest
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Data on visitor flow and popular entry points
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Location-based analytics to inform future programming and partnerships
The Results
In the first year:
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Over 1,200 self-guided tours were completed
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Visitors came from 180+ postal/zip code regions
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The app recorded over 3,000 exhibit interactions, helping staff understand what resonated most
Though the museum hosts thousands of guests annually, these results show how digital storytelling extended reach, enriched experiences, and attracted new audiences beyond their typical visitor base.
Key Takeaways
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Interactive museum tours increase engagement and accessibility
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Digital tools extend reach far beyond physical walls
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Visitor analytics help inform future programming and exhibit updates
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Place-based storytelling connects visitors to history in a more meaningful way
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Onboarding support makes implementation easy for small teams