Tehran has opened a new gallery combining the capital’s history with artificial intelligence and digital technology. The exhibition aims to promote Tehran as a tourism destination while exploring future travel experiences.
The “Stories of Tehran” gallery opened on September 27 at Kushk-e Bagh-e Honar. The venue operates within the Abbasabad Cultural and Tourism Zone, a major recreational district in the capital.
Running through October 8, the exhibition coincides with World Tourism Day and Tehran Week. Its program reflects this year’s focus on digital technology and artificial intelligence in tourism.
Visitors can explore historical maps, photographs, timelines, infographics and interactive displays covering Tehran’s development. Meanwhile, the exhibits examine political, cultural and social changes throughout the city’s history.
The gallery also highlights traditional food, historic buildings, old plane trees and Tehran’s natural heritage. Furthermore, interactive features allow visitors to hear stories and explore replicas linked to historic Tehran.
Artificial intelligence plays an important role throughout the exhibition, particularly through virtual tourism experiences. Visitors can also use QR-code services to create photographs featuring historical views of Tehran.
Seyyed Mohammad-Hossein Hejazi, managing director of the Abbasabad zone, said organizers want Tehran to be viewed beyond transit tourism. Therefore, officials aim to introduce more attractions and strengthen the capital’s tourism profile.
The zone is also developing a tourism card connected with Tehran Municipality’s Shahrzad application. Officials expect the card eventually to cover transportation, museums, recreational facilities and tourism attractions.
The initiative follows an earlier virtual tourism project launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, tourism officials worked with guides and industry participants to create digital journeys through Tehran.
Sara Mirzaei, a tourism official, said technology should support genuine travel rather than replace direct experiences. She highlighted smart glasses and similar tools as potential future tourism services.
The exhibition also examines Abbasabad’s 560-hectare transformation into a major cultural and recreational district. Its facilities include Tabiat Bridge, Ab-o-Atash Park, Mina Dome and Book Garden.
visitors can write letters to Tehran’s mayor in 1450, corresponding to 2071–72. Organizers will seal those letters, creating a physical record of today’s expectations for Tehran’s future.