The Museum of Lost Sounds was conceived in 2015 by Dr. Elara Voss, a sound historian and ethnomusicologist, who became fascinated by the idea of preserving sounds that were rapidly disappearing from the modern world. What began as a small research project soon grew into a collaborative effort involving sound engineers, historians, and archivists from around the globe.
The museum’s first major project was the digitization and restoration of recordings of the dodo bird, a species that went extinct in the 17th century. Using advanced audio restoration techniques, the team was able to create a scientifically accurate recreation of the bird’s call, bringing this lost sound back to life for the first time in centuries.
The success of this project led to the creation of the Museum of Lost Sounds as a digital platform, allowing people from all over the world to explore and appreciate these forgotten auditory treasures. Since its inception, the museum has expanded its collection to include a wide variety of sounds, from the calls of extinct animals to the hum of vintage machinery, each with its own unique story to tell.
Every sound has a story—whether it’s the last call of an extinct bird, the rhythmic clatter of a vintage machine, or the hum of a disappearing dialect. These sounds are more than mere noise; they are windows into the past, reflections of cultures, and connections to our collective heritage. By preserving them, we honor the richness of our world and ensure that future generations can hear the echoes of what once was.
