Tontitown Time Traveler was created to help people learn about the history of Tontitown in a fun and interactive way. Many students and community members do not know much about the people, traditions, and events that helped shape the town. Instead of creating a regular history display, students wanted to make something hands-on that would encourage families, museum visitors, and school groups to explore local history together.
To solve this problem, students partnered with the Tontitown Historical Museum to create an interactive board game based on the history of Tontitown. Players travel through the town’s past by completing challenges, learning facts, and visiting important locations connected to local history. Students designed custom game boards, character cards, trivia, and 3D-printed game pieces to bring the experience to life.
The project used tools such as 3D printers, a Glowforge laser engraver, Canva, and digital design software to create the game materials. Students researched historical information, designed artwork, tested game rules, and worked together to create a finished product that could be used by museum visitors and local schools. This project filled the CART by giving students the opportunity to solve a real community need while building skills in communication, teamwork, creativity, research, and technology. Students learned how to take historical information and turn it into an engaging experience for others.
What makes this project unique is that it combines local history with game design and maker technology. Instead of reading about history in a textbook, players can interact with the stories and places that shaped Tontitown through a fun and creative experience. The project also helped students see how technology and design can be used to preserve and share community history. This project began during the 2025–2026 school year and continued through the spring semester as students researched, designed, tested, and created the final game experience.