The Velaslavasay Panorama

[Open by appointment only - Book online! https://panoramaonview.org/home/visitor-information ]

Drawing on the illustrious history of the great panorama paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries, The Velaslavasay Panorama is an exhibition hall, theatre and garden dedicated to the production and presentation of unusual visual experiences, including those of the 360-degree variety.  The Velaslavasay Panorama panoramic exhibition encircles the spectator within a fully enveloping atmosphere; a vast painting of a continuous surrounding landscape, accompanied by sound stimulation and three-dimensional elements, affords the viewer an opportunity to experience a complete sensory phenomenon.

Historically, the panorama was an immersive 360-degree painted environment, often including a three-dimensional faux terrain in the foreground of the painting to enhance the illusion of depth and simulated reality.  An early ancestor of the motion picture, the captivated public would visit these paintings-in-the-round as an entertainment or novelty, much along the same lines as the cinema is seen today. 

Located in Univestiy Park in the West Adams Historic District, The Velaslavasay Panorama presents to the community an art form that has been nearly lost due to the technological advancements of our time and the multitudinous variety of ways in which the public consumes mass entertainment.

In addition to serving as a showcase for panoramic works and living garden wonders, The Velaslavasay Panorama also hosts events. The Panorama's past events include illustrated lectures on a variety of artistic and scientific subjects; film screenings; and presentations that vary from toy theatre productions and silent film programs to crafting meetings and other experimentations.