The words White House Historical Association probably don’t bring bleeding-edge technology to mind. Mahogany shelves lined with dusty hardbound books seem more likely than entertaining apps and “gamefied” online experiences. But through partnering with Amazon Web Services Inc., the association is out to change that — and its inviting people to experience history in novel ways.

“It’s very important to us for people to be able to see up close and personal and walk through these spaces where Lincoln walked and Roosevelt worked,” said Stewart McLaurin (pictured), president of the White House Historical Association.

McLaurin spoke with John Furrier (@furrier) and Stu Miniman (@stu), co-hosts of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the AWS Public Sector Summit in Washington, D.C. They discussed the association’s evolving mediums and methods for educating the public. (* Disclosure below.)

Snooping around ‘the house’ with AWS tech

The private association was founded by Jackie Kennedy in 1961. It funds the acquisition of art, furnishings and decorative arts for the White House. Its more important mission, however, is to educate the public about its history. It has not always been easy to disseminate its wealth of material, though, according to McLaurin.

“We are content rich, but we are reach-challenged,” he said. The Association’s new partnerships with AWS and others are helping it spread its message through the U.S. and globally.

While 500,000 people tour the White House annually, the depth of information they imbibe from the walk-through is not impressive, McLaurin explained. “Tours are self-guided. So unless you know what you’re looking at — you don’t know what you’re looking at,” he said.

The association continues to publish books that delve into the building’s history. However, its recently developed application — available globally — offers a more life-like interactive experience. WHExperince, available from the Apple iTunes app store, offers three avenues to exploring White House history.

One allows the user to rove around and learn about whatever piques their interest. “It brings to life for you everything that you’re looking at in every room,” McLaurin said.

Another tour takes the user outdoors. “If you’re outside the White House in President’s Park, it will unpack and open the doors of these rooms for you virtually, so you can see the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room and the Blue Room and the Green Room,” McLaurin added.

In the last tour, users can take a selfie, and AWS’ recognition technology will pinpoint the presidents or first ladies they most resemble.

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the AWS Public Sector Summit. (* Disclosure:  Amazon Web Services Inc. sponsored this segment of theCUBE. Neither AWS nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE