For two decades, StoryCorps’ Mobile Tour has crisscrossed the country, collecting voices and memories from towns large and small.
It began in 2005, when a branded StoryCorps Airstream trailer—retrofitted as a recording studio—debuted outside the Library of Congress. Since then, the MobileBooth has logged thousands of miles each year, stopping in ten communities annually to capture and preserve local voices. Guided by trained facilitators, these interviews have contributed to StoryCorps’ archive at the American Folklife Center—the largest collection of human voices ever gathered.
That journey was interrupted in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a sudden pivot. After just two stops, StoryCorps reimagined the tour, launching a virtual Mobile Tour that allowed people to record conversations online with the help of a facilitator. The adaptation ensured that, even in isolation, people could still share their stories and feel less alone.
Today, the Mobile Tour continues in hybrid form, offering participants the choice of recording in person or online. And as the Airstream continues its travels, it carries with it two decades of voices — a living archive of America, told one conversation at a time.
Fun Facts about the Mobile Tour
- Since 2005, our MobileBooth has visited 49 states at least once, plus Washington, D.C.
- Throughout the Mobile Tour, we’ve visited California and Texas the most (23 times.)
- In total, we have already visited over 200 cities and traveled over 80,000 miles.
Interested in recording your own story? Check out the remaining stops on our 2025 Mobile Tour schedule, and book an appointment today!