El 48

El 48 is an interactive virtual reality project being produced with Glenda Umaña Productions and UXRTech, in close partnership with the National Museum of Costa Rica.

More than an experience, it’s a kind of time-traveling state of mind. A shared memory of a pivotal period that offers you the freedom to witness the moment when critical decisions were made in history. To feel it. Hear it. And connect with other people experiencing the same moment together.

The project recreates the moment President Figueres struck the wall of the Cuartel Bellavista and officially dismantled the Costa Rican military. It interactively escorts El 48 players back from the current National Museum to one of the most formative events in Costa Rican history.

A demo of El 48 premiered at the National Museum of Costa Rica on December 1st, 2020 on the anniversary of the army’s abolition, in a ceremony attended by Costa Rica’s President Carlos Alvarado Quesada and First Lady Claudia Dobles Camargo.

El 48 was the first virtual reality exhibit in any Costa Rican museum, and the first anywhere that viscerally takes the visitor through Costa Rican history, sensing the turbulent spirit of the age. No other medium can allow for such an immersive experience, conveying this transcendent story more richly to a new generation than ever before. All are invited to enjoy the journey; Costa Ricans, international tourists and especially youth can use this “visionary space” to witness this iconic, transformative moment together.  With the National Museum such a popular attraction in one of the world’s favorite tourist destinations, the power of El 48 inspires visitors to think about how they can improve their own countries, becoming force multipliers who will ultimately impact the entire world.

• Trailer