The Farnsworth Art Museum is pleased to announce it has made 3D interactive experiences available to the public for both of the museum’s historic properties: the Olson House, depicted in Andrew Wyeth’s iconic Christina’s World, and the Farnsworth Homestead. These 3D virtual tours of the houses were created by local photographer Dave Clough and feature interactive 3D and VR experiences for the online visitor. Both houses may now be explored online through the museum’s website at www.farnsworthmuseum.org

The Farnsworth Homestead is the home of the museum’s original benefactor Lucy Farnsworth. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the architectural style of the house and outbuildings is Greek Revival but the interior is decorated in high Victorian style. The elegant structure has survived intact, with virtually no adaptation. Minimal electrical systems were added for safety purposes, but all the original heating and plumbing is still in place, including what was probably the first indoor bathroom with a flush toilet in the city.

The Olson House in Cushing, Maine was designated a National Historic Landmark in July of 2014. It is the subject of numerous works of art by Andrew Wyeth, including his 1948 painting Christina's World, now owned by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Wyeth's series of drawings, watercolors and tempera paintings featuring Christina Olson, her brother Alvaro and the house itself, occupied Wyeth from 1939 through 1968. 

Though both houses are open to the public for guided tours from Memorial Day weekend through the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend, neither is handicapped accessible. “Certainly nothing can take the place of an actual, in-person guided tour. However, this technology will allow many of our visitors who are unable to access the Olson House in person, the opportunity to explore the same rooms and views that inspired Andrew Wyeth for over 30 years,” commented Farnsworth Director Christopher Brownawell. “The same goes for the Farnsworth Homestead, where our benefactor Lucy Farnsworth lived. This technology opens up these two very special places to an untold amount of guests.”

The Matterport 3D system features a camera and platform that gives participating organizations realistic, interactive 3D and VR experiences. Photographer Dave Clough spent hours in both houses photographing the interiors’ many details to piece together a complete view of all the floors of both historic homes. Online visitors can navigate both the Homestead and the Olson House on a desktop or mobile web browser, and in virtual reality through a Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard, or Google Daydream.

Dave Clough, born, raised, and educated in Maine, has had a life-long fascination with photography and images that tell a story. He was the photographer for Homes Down East (Tilbury House Publishers, 2014). His work has also been published in the Japan National Trust’s 2010 Guidebook for the Yasuda House, and MaineBiz’s Maine, A Portrait of the Pine Tree State (2012). His work will be featured in the 21st edition of Sir Banister Fletcher’s Global History of Architecture, and the upcoming Tilbury House Publishers book, Restoring Your Historic House by Scott T. Hanson.

Those wishing to visit the online 3D interactives should navigate to www.farnsworthmuseum.org and then head to the Visit/historic-homes pages where they may choose to view either the Homestead or the Olson House. For more information,  contact Farnsworth Communications Officer David Troup: dtroup@farnsworthmuseum.org or 207-390-6009.