About:
The histories collected by Old Salem’s Hidden Town Project and the Hidden Town in 3D students bring to light the complicated use of slavery and enslaved people to build the town and their contribution to the mercantile prosperity of Salem
Old Salem Museum and Gardens
Since 2016, the Hidden Town Initiative strives to research and reveal the history of a community of enslaved and free Africans and African Americans who once lived in Salem. In partnering with MTSU, the Hidden Town Initiative is working towards new digital interpretations for public audiences.
MTSU Digital History Program
Expanding upon the Old Salem’s Hidden Town Initiative, Dr. Molly Taylor-Poleskey designed Maymester field schools in 2018 and 2021 for Public History graduate students to further research the lives and material contexts of Black Salemites.
MTSU Animation Department
Collaborating with the Digital History Program, Dr. Richard Lewis’s Animation students utilized the research conducted during the field school to digitally recreate the Christian David House and other contextual objects in an augmented and virtual reality.
Read more about the experience of working on Hidden Town in 3D by reading Student Stories.
Website was originally funded by a Digital Seed Grant from Digital Scholarship Initiatives at Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University. Prof. Molly Taylor-Poleskey was the primary investigator and since she left MTSU, she funds this website.