Sangamon Sun

Illinois visitors can take a deeper look at all the history the state has to offer thanks to an app unveiled by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) recently.

The "Experience History" app also allows people to donate to state historic sites through a digital interface.

Christopher Wills, a spokesperson for the agency, told Illinois Information Service Radio that the app is designed to add information and insight during a visit to the state.

“I could see somebody going to a part of the state and then wondering what historic sites are nearby, so they look it up, and they decide, ‘Oh, this is the one that interests me; I’m going to drive over there,’" Wills said. “But then when you’re at a site touring it, you might want to pull it out and look at a picture of what it looked like in the past or read a little bit about it.”

The app features a list of historic sites, an events calendar, multiple photos and background information. Plans are in place to add more content and features over time. It also features mobile payment integration, which IHPA expects to be more in demand as technology progresses. 

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the Department of Innovation and Technology worked in conjunction with the IHPA on the development of the app.

The IHPA "Experience History" app can be found at the Apple Store and Google Play.