Planet Word Museum

The world’s first voice-activated museum

Local Projects worked with philanthropist Ann Friedman and her team to transform the Franklin School, a National Historical Landmark, located six blocks from the White House into Planet Word, the world’s first voice-activated museum of language. Through ten immersive learning galleries, visitors can use their voices to interact and engage with exhibits while hearing from a diverse international cast of leaders, authors, and everyday people who share what language means to them.

Where Do Words Come From?

In the introductory gallery, a massive wall composed of over 1,000 three-dimensional words comes to life by speaking aloud, asking visitors questions, and responding with a lively combination of sound, animation, and lighting effects. This interactive wall uses its voice to address stereotypes and misconceptions about how language works — challenging, for example, the idea that “ain’t ain’t a word” and presenting evidence for language as a living thing that is shaped by us all.

Word Worlds

In the Word Worlds gallery, visitors use a “smart” paint brush and pick a descriptive word to “paint” with. As they move their brush along the wall, the landscape comes to life with imagery, motion, and sound effects that reflect the meaning of that particular word. The scene constantly evolves as visitors paint with new words.