3D Virtual Museums and Virtual Reality reconstructions of cultural heritage exploit information technology to capture, represent and visualize the data studied by archaeologists and historians of art and architecture, for purposes such as preservation, study, communication and exhibition. The usage of 3D models permits detailed inspection capabilities of cultural heritage objects and today's graphics technology allows one to build complex, high fidelity virtual worlds that contain representations of cultural heritage objects and their contextual environment, e.g. to insert artworks in their proper cultural setting. In this project, we are dealing with some of the challenges people face when building 3D virtual museums and reconstructions using virtual reality: (i) designing software tools that are easy to use for people with minimal technical capabilites; (ii) experimenting with new ways of conveying emotional aspects in the virtual reconstructions of past events; (iii) employing virtual humans to guide people in virtual museums.