Presidio Archaeology Lab

The Presidio Archaeology Lab of San Francisco provides a venue for the study and appreciation of archaeology. This lightweight and user-friendly Web site gives an overview of the institution and empowers visitors with resources for a greater understanding of the subject. Made in collaboration with staff at the Presidio, this Web site showcases their artifact collection and relates the story of the Presidio park in a refreshing way.

The heart of the online experience lies in the “story drawers,” which display artifacts from the collection like pieces of a puzzle. Artifacts – like a set of torn playing cards found in a solders’ barracks – open in a modal slideshow gallery where records reveal deeper content. Visitors are then exposed to the artifacts’ historical origins and learn about the scientific methods used for piecing together clues about the object. To explain the geography and culture of the historic Presidio site, an interactive timeline chronicles notable milestones through stories and archival images. Other sections of the Web site provide a platform for the Presidio to communicate with the public and an opportunity to extend their audience. The online experience exists simultaneously as a touchscreen interactive onsite at the Lab.

In addition to the Web site, Second Story created a short narrative documentary that plays on a loop at their new visitor center. The video captures the excavation of an historic Presidio site while illustrating a typical day in the life of an archaeologist.