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Digital museum

launching in 2025

archiving the history of virtual worlds.

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AUREA Award Winner 7th Edition

AUREA Award Winner

The Virtual Worlds Museum has been recognized for excellence and innovation in the field of immersive digital experiences.

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OUR MISSION

EXPLORE - PRESERVE - INSPIRE

The Virtual Worlds Museum enriches knowledge and ignites interest in immersive worlds by:

Preserving History

Preserving the history of virtual worlds through research and documentation of their evolution.

Clarifying Terminology

Clarifying terminologies through interactive Exhibits that explain virtual world concepts.

Creating Programs

Creating programs that explore the vastness of immersive ecosystems and their potential.

Explore, learn, and discover the fascinating world of Metaverse platforms with us. We are tracking WebXR world hops and the upcoming proliferation of AI-generated worlds—all while preserving the history of this evolving technology.

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Featured Exhibits

Explore the evolution of virtual worlds through our curated exhibits, each focusing on a different era and aspect of this fascinating technology.

The Dawn of Virtual Worlds
Exhibit 1
1978-1995

The Dawn of Virtual Worlds

From text-based MUDs to early graphical environments, explore the origins of virtual worlds.

The Rise of Graphical MMOs
Exhibit 2
1996-2004

The Rise of Graphical MMOs

The transition to fully graphical persistent worlds and the birth of the MMORPG genre.

The Golden Age of MMORPGs
Exhibit 3
2004-2010

The Golden Age of MMORPGs

The explosion of massively multiplayer online games and virtual communities.

Social Virtual Worlds
Exhibit 4
2003-2020

Social Virtual Worlds

The evolution of social platforms and user-generated content in virtual spaces.

The Metaverse Vision
Exhibit 5
2020-Present

The Metaverse Vision

The contemporary push toward interconnected virtual worlds and immersive experiences.

Future of Virtual Worlds
Exhibit 6
Beyond

Future of Virtual Worlds

Speculative exhibits on where virtual world technology might take us next.

The Dawn of Virtual Worlds
Exhibit 1
1978-1995

The Dawn of Virtual Worlds

From text-based MUDs to early graphical environments, explore the origins of virtual worlds.

The Rise of Graphical MMOs
Exhibit 2
1996-2004

The Rise of Graphical MMOs

The transition to fully graphical persistent worlds and the birth of the MMORPG genre.

The Golden Age of MMORPGs
Exhibit 3
2004-2010

The Golden Age of MMORPGs

The explosion of massively multiplayer online games and virtual communities.

Social Virtual Worlds
Exhibit 4
2003-2020

Social Virtual Worlds

The evolution of social platforms and user-generated content in virtual spaces.

The Metaverse Vision
Exhibit 5
2020-Present

The Metaverse Vision

The contemporary push toward interconnected virtual worlds and immersive experiences.

Future of Virtual Worlds
Exhibit 6
Beyond

Future of Virtual Worlds

Speculative exhibits on where virtual world technology might take us next.

The Dawn of Virtual Worlds
Exhibit 1
1978-1995

The Dawn of Virtual Worlds

From text-based MUDs to early graphical environments, explore the origins of virtual worlds.

The Rise of Graphical MMOs
Exhibit 2
1996-2004

The Rise of Graphical MMOs

The transition to fully graphical persistent worlds and the birth of the MMORPG genre.

The Golden Age of MMORPGs
Exhibit 3
2004-2010

The Golden Age of MMORPGs

The explosion of massively multiplayer online games and virtual communities.

Social Virtual Worlds
Exhibit 4
2003-2020

Social Virtual Worlds

The evolution of social platforms and user-generated content in virtual spaces.

The Metaverse Vision
Exhibit 5
2020-Present

The Metaverse Vision

The contemporary push toward interconnected virtual worlds and immersive experiences.

Future of Virtual Worlds
Exhibit 6
Beyond

Future of Virtual Worlds

Speculative exhibits on where virtual world technology might take us next.

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WebXR Exhibits

Explore our collection of WebXR platforms and virtual worlds that are shaping the future of immersive digital experiences.

VRChat

VRChat

A social platform where users can create, share, and explore virtual worlds with other users.

Horizon Worlds

Horizon Worlds

Meta's social VR platform that allows users to build and interact in virtual spaces.

Rec Room

Rec Room

A cross-platform social gaming app where users can play and create games together.

Spatial

Spatial

A collaborative platform for virtual meetings, events, and exhibitions in 3D spaces.

Frame

Frame

A browser-based platform for creating and sharing interactive 3D spaces.

Nowhere

Nowhere

A virtual events platform designed for meaningful social interactions.

Virtual Worlds Timeline

Tracing the evolution of virtual worlds from text-based beginnings to immersive metaverse experiences.

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MUD1
1978
The first Multi-User Dungeon created by Roy Trubshaw and Richard Bartle at Essex University.
Habitat
1985
One of the first attempts to create a large-scale commercial virtual world by Lucasfilm Games.
Ultima Online
1997
One of the first major graphical MMORPGs that helped define the genre.
Second Life
2003
A pioneering social virtual world focused on user-generated content and virtual economy.
World of Warcraft
2004
The MMORPG that brought virtual worlds into mainstream popularity.
VR Renaissance
2016
Consumer VR headsets launch, bringing new immersive capabilities to virtual worlds.
Metaverse Push
2021
Major tech companies begin investing heavily in connected virtual world technologies.
Museum Launch
2025
The Virtual Worlds Museum opens to preserve and showcase this evolving history.
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Upcoming Events

Join us for special events, workshops, and tours exploring the fascinating world of virtual environments.

Tour
42 attending

Virtual Worlds History Tour

Join our curator for a guided tour through the evolution of virtual worlds from the earliest text-based environments to modern metaverse platforms.

May 15, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDT
Main Virtual Gallery
Workshop
28 attending

Workshop: Building Your First Virtual Space

A hands-on workshop for beginners to learn the basics of creating their own virtual environments using accessible tools and platforms.

May 22, 2025
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT
Digital Workshop Room
Panel
156 attending

Panel: The Future of Virtual Communities

Industry experts discuss how virtual communities are evolving and what we might expect in the coming decades of virtual world development.

June 5, 2025
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM EDT
Virtual Auditorium
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JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Connect with fellow enthusiasts, researchers, and creators in the virtual worlds space

Community Forums

Join discussions with other virtual world enthusiasts and researchers.

Research Papers

Access our collection of academic papers and research on virtual worlds.

Educational Resources

Discover tutorials, guides, and educational content about virtual worlds.

Virtual Events

Participate in virtual meetups, conferences, and guided tours.

The Virtual Worlds Museum is building a vibrant community of individuals passionate about the past, present, and future of virtual worlds. Join us in preserving and exploring this evolving technology.

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