The Traveling Sound Museum is a fictitious institution inspired by the spirit of the Museum of Jurassic Technology, blurring the lines between history, science, and snake oil salesmanship. It is built upon the premise that, at some point in history, an ancient and now-lost practice allowed practitioners to trap sounds in vessels for eternity.

The Traveling Sound Museum exists to showcase artifacts from this forgotten technology—specifically, the Sound Jars: ten unique urns and containers. When picked up and tapped, each jar releases a carefully crafted soundscape from its designated period in history, from the calls of fishmongers in the pre-Renaissance markets of Catania, Sicily, to funeral songs for a Sumba tribal leader dating back to 1522.

Meticulously researched tags provide historical context for each jar, while the soundscapes range from somber to humorous, immersing listeners in a rich, sensory experience.

Great care was taken to hide any modern technology to enhance the illusion of authenticity. Custom sound amplification and sensor circuits were discreetly mounted in the bases of the vessels, powered by batteries, allowing guests to pick them up and hold them directly to their ears.

At night, the museum was illuminated solely by the warm glow of hidden flame-flickering LED “candles”, further deepening the atmosphere and transporting visitors to a time when such a lost art might have truly existed.

• Chris Cerrito: Lead Artist, Interaction Designer, Physical Computing

• Mike Rosenthal: Lead Artist, Soundscapes

• Peter Scheidl: Engineering