Sonoma SHP announced the completion and launch of a free educational Minecraft server, providing an opportunity for kids of all ages to take a virtual tour of the San Francisco Solano Mission. For those who are unfamiliar, the Minecraft video game is akin to a digital set of Legos, allowing you to unleash your imagination. Picture a vast world made of blocks where you can construct anything from simple houses to entire virtual cities, and in our case, a historic California mission. Minecraft serves as a virtual community where people come together to create, explore and share their experiences. In the United States alone, there are over 4,000 servers, essentially different spaces within the game where people can connect and play together.

Brooke Sullivan, Interpreter Specialist, and Tyler Markley, Interpreter I, conceived and built the tour of the Mission on a virtual Minecraft server. The overall goal of their project is to provide kids with an engaging platform to delve into California history. It also offers access to those who may not be able to visit the mission in person. The project marks a notable leap in educational innovation for State Parks. As the first California state park to embrace Minecraft as an educational tool, Sonoma SHP aims to pave the way for a new form of interactive and engaging learning experiences.

Brooke and Tyler believe the project aligns perfectly with the core principles of the California State Parks by preserving our state’s extraordinary cultural resources and creating innovative opportunities for education and recreation.

Everyone is invited to embark on a virtual journey through the San Francisco Solano Mission. For any inquiries or to express your interest, you can contact SonomaMissionMinecraft@gmail.com