If you’ve ever been curious about what goes on in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, of course more popularly known as The White House, there is now an app on the Google Play Store that can give you a glimpse into it. Simply called 1600, the app gives you an augmented reality version of the historic compound where the US President has lived since 1800. All you need is your Android smartphone, the app itself, and a one dollar bill to bring you into this virtual world.
The app’s main purpose is to educate students on various aspects of The White House, so if you find the visuals and the information a bit childish, know that you are not the primary audience. But that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying it too. Basically, all you have to do is open the app, point it at George Washington (who technically never lived in the White House) on the dollar bill (or even a picture of a dollar bill) and see 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue come to virtual life.
You’ll be able to see it from the outside only of course since it is more complicated, not to mention dangerous, to go inside The White House, even just virtually. You can see it from various angles and watch tourists, politicians, and diplomats go in and out as well. This project is a collaboration between the White House Historical Association and Nexus Studios to educate younger children about where the president lives.
You can download 1600 from the Google Play Store for free. Just don’t forget to have that one dollar in handy.