If you are unable to travel to Washington, or were unable to secure a ticket for a tour of the White House, there is no need to stress.

The White House, Google Maps, and Google Arts & Culture have debuted a fresh online tour of the renowned estate on Friday, coinciding with National Civics Day.

Using a computer or smartphone, individuals can view all the rooms they would have seen on a public tour of the building.

The recently enhanced virtual tour is a key component of first lady Jill Biden’s efforts to make the White House accessible to a wide range of individuals. As a former community college professor, Biden envisions educators utilizing the tour to teach students about the White House and its past, according to her spokesperson, Elizabeth Alexander.

Alexander stated that not all individuals are able to travel to Washington, D.C. to visit the White House. Therefore, she is making an effort to bring the White House experience to them.

The White House’s virtual tour, created by Google, is the first to feature audio captions for individuals with disabilities. These captions, narrated by White House social secretary Carlos Elizondo, appear on the screen and provide viewers with historical details about each room.

This is the inaugural virtual White House tour by Google to include Spanish translation.

The tour begins with a short film featuring President Joe Biden and the first lady greeting guests, which is the same message shown at the White House Visitors Center for in-person visitors.

The East Wing Entrance was the starting point for capturing imagery using Google Street View technology. The tour route included all public rooms, such as the library, China Room, Green, Blue, and Red rooms, as well as the East Room and State Dining Room.

The trip was made with the assistance of Google Arts & Culture’s storytelling platform.

According to Ben Gomes, Google’s senior vice president of learning and sustainability, the goal of its arts and culture department is to provide access to global cultures for individuals worldwide.

The White House website, Google Maps, and the Google Arts & Culture page all offer access to the tour.

Source: wral.com