History-Related “Escape Room” Opens on WVNCC Campus
Photo by Derek Redd Trending
WHEELING - The community is invited to come escape to late 19th Century Hawaii, change history, and help the last Hawaiian queen defeat the business forces that destroyed the monarchy.
The imprisonment of Liliʻuokalani, the last queen of Hawaii, is the subject of an “escape room” opening for visitors on Monday in the former bookstore area at the West Virginia Northern Community College campus.
The room was created by Glass Eye Worx, and money generated by visits benefits YWCA Wheeling cultural diversity and community outreach programs. Michael Alicea of Glass Eye Worx said he learned much about Hawaii while researching the queen and the end of Hawaii's monarchy.
"There was so much I didn't know about Hawaii," Alicea said. "I didn't know pineapples were not native to Hawaii."
Pineapples instead are indigenous to South America and the Caribbean, but were forced upon the people of Hawaii by business interests wishing to grow them there.
"They forced the natives to produce the pineapples, but they were not able to profit from the business," Alicea said.
Those participating in the escape room will get a lesson history of how the pineapple business eventually leads to Hawaii becoming an American state, as well a lesson in Hawaiian culture, explained Ron Scott Jr., director of cultural diversity and outreach at YWCA Wheeling.
"I have spoken with some people locally who are of Polynesian descent, and I was taken aback by how emotional they got when speaking about the queen, and how much she means to them," he said.
"The queen was one of the few who actively fought for the workers against the business class."
Scott noted the escape room concept was a particularly creative way to learn history and about other cultures.
"We could do just a PowerPoint presentation, but this way it's more entertaining and people get a good dose of history, as well," he said.
"The Last Queen of Hawaii" escape room will be open to visitors throughout April, but additional escape rooms depicting other cultures are planned for the future. The next will likely tell a story related to Spanish culture, said Lychel Shrodes of Glass Eye Worx.
Even if a person doesn't belong to a specific culture, the escape rooms will provide the opportunity to learn about that culture, she continued.
"Then we think more people will get interested and want the stories of their own cultures told," she added.
Those interested in setting up a time for a group to participate in the escape room may contact Scott at 304-281-7020, or at cdcodirector@ywcawheeling. Bookings also can be achieved through the Glass Eye Worx Facebook page, or by emailing glasseyeworx@gmail.com.