Case Study: de Young Museum achieves an immersive recreation of the 1967 "Summer of Love" with NEC Display Solutions

NEC Projectors Recreate 1967’s Summer of Love in San Francisco Museum Exhibition

de Young Museum in San Francisco needed to update its exhibition technology to create an immersive experience for The Summer of Love Experience (April 8–August 20, 2017). The museum selected NEC Display Solutions, purchasing 12 NEC PA803U projectors and two NEC MultiSync EA273WMI-BK 27‑inch displays to handle the galleries’ ambient light and complex projection mapping needs.

NEC Display Solutions supplied and supported the high‑brightness 8,000‑lumen PA803U projectors (with 3‑D reform and ceiling‑auto features) and MultiSync displays, enabling custom mapping of Trips Festival footage and psychedelic light shows. The installation successfully brought 1960s visuals to life, drove strong visitor engagement—guests called the light‑show room “selfie central” and often stayed 30–60 minutes—and prompted the de Young to plan more projector‑based exhibitions.

de Young Museum

Rich Rice Audio

Visual Manager