Welcome to the McFaddin-Ward House entryway! This is where guests were greeted by a butler. From here guests were received by the family in different living spaces on the first floor of the home. This space in the home connected the family to the outside world. For example, the mail and daily newspapers were delivered to the family by way of a mail slot located next to the front doors you entered for this tour. The mail was either taken to the family or left on a side table by a member of their household staff. This was one of many ways the family received news of the world. Click and drag around the room for a 360 view. Now, you can find the mail slot!

This virtual tour is about how Ida McFaddin and her daughter Mamie McFaddin Ward used communication technology as a tool for civic engagement. Civic engagement was important to the ladies. They felt it was their duty, as citizens, to assist their community where needed. They were active volunteers and organizers with the American Red Cross Beaumont Chapter during World Wars I and II. The Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton. The organization serves people in need. The federal government calls on the Red Cross to help with disasters and to help care for the sick and injured during war time.

Click/Tap and drag to look around. Scroll/Pinch to zoom in and out. You can move through the house in one of three ways:
* clicking on any room doorway found within the virtual space
* by opening the tour map with the "MAP" icon and clicking a room, or
* using the tour navigation menu in the top left corner of the view.

Our tour host, Ida McFaddin, played by one of our volunteers, is located throughout the house, and you can click her to learn how the real Ida McFaddin and her family used objects related to communication technology. Click on each object touchpoint icon to learn more about how the object was used and who used them. Some objects make sound, so be sure to listen to the audio clips as well. You can hide the Information pane (like this one) by clicking the icon in the top left of the information pane header.

We hope you enjoy your virtual visit of this grand home!