ArcGIS StoryMaps allows you to use a variety of maps, text, and multimedia elements to present interactive narratives. Since ArcGIS has a number of helpful StoryMap tutorials and instructions available, the information here is relatively brief and often links out to those resources.
Creating a good storymap requires good planning. You may find it helpful to sketch out your ideas on paper (in the form of a diagram, an outline, or a rough illustration) prior to working in the actual technology.
StoryMaps uses "content blocks," which include objects ranging from text blocks to interactive maps to images. See content "A Story Map on Story Maps" for examples of content blocks.
When adding media of any kind, you are given the opportunity to add alternative text for the visually impaired. You want to do this unless the image is purely decorative and does not add to the content/narrative. (Read more about alt text, including writing tips.)
To add alt text, hover over the media and then click on "Options" (the gear icon). Depending on the content block type, you will see either a field that says, "Alternative text" or you will see a choice to click on "Display" or "Properties." Click on "Properties" and you will then see an "Alternative text" field.
StoryMaps lets you adjust the look/design within a limited range.
You can keep your story private or publish it for your audience. You have to republish your work for any changes made to be visible to visitors. Before publishing or sharing your story you can preview your story. The publishing and sharing options (among others) can be found in the menu at the top of the page:
The URL (web address) that you get when you "View published story" is your project's front-facing URL and is the link you share out.
StoryMaps provides a number of content block styles to choose from. Please note that public ArcGIS accounts do not have the embed, audio, and image gallery available.
View this StoryMap for a demonstration of the different kinds of content blocks.
To add a new content block, click in the area just above or below an existing content block. (The plus sign is automatically there when first launching a new story.) It will look like the following:
You will see the various content block and element options:
Below are descriptions of the different content blocks with links to instructions created by ArcGIS. They are organized as "Basic," "Media," and "Immersive," which is how they are organized in Story Maps.
Text - a text block for general textual content, headers, bullet point, lists, quotes, etc.
Button - adds a button that can be linked to outside sources.
Separator - adds a line to break up content on the page, used to make content more readable and navigable
ArcGIS instructions:
Map - create "express maps" in Story Maps or bring in ArcGIS map
Image - upload or link to images
Image gallery* - create an image gallery in the form of a grid of images
Video - upload or link to videos
Audio* - upload or embed sound clips
Embed* - embed different types of media (e.g., a TimelineJS timeline or a 360 degree photograph)
Swipe - create a swiping effect between two images or online maps
*Not available with the free version.
ArcGIS instructions:
See ArcGIS's Getting started with ArcGIS StoryMaps sections: "Building a Narrative," "Add an Embed," and "Make a Map"
Also, see: Add maps, Add media, and Add swipe blocks
Slideshow - create a more traditional slideshow
Sidecar - create a moving side panel for text and media independent of the main panel, also allows for text blocks to overlay and move across media
Map tour - create an interactive map that combines images, text with a map
Note that the Slideshow option has been incorporated into the Sidecar layouts.
ArcGIS instructions:
See ArcGIS's Getting started with ArcGIS StoryMaps sections: "Add Immersives"
Also see, Add sidecars, Add slideshows, Add map tours
If you do not already have an ArcGIS account, you will need to create one to get started. If you cannot get an institutional account, you can create a free public one. Note that free accounts have limited functionality and do not allow for embedding, incorporating audio clips, and creating image galleries.
To create your free account, click on "Sign In" in the upper right corner of the StoryMaps site, which will take you to the Esri sign-in page. Then click "Create a public account" and complete the account creation process.
Once you have signed into your account, click "New Story" in the top left corner to create your StoryMap.
From the "New story" dropdown, you can select "Start of scratch," so that your project has does not preexisting block styles in place, or you can choose to start with a "Sidecar," "Guided map tour," or "Explore map tour" content block types.
In the space where it says "Untitled," you can give your story a name. Feel free to add a subtitle as well. (You change them anytime, so feel free to use temporary ones.)
StoryMaps automatically saves, so there is no need to save after launching your new story or after making any changes.
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection has a wide variety of historical maps
The David Rumsey Historical Map Collection has a broad collection of historical maps that you might use as the base map for your ArcGIS StoryMap. These steps will walk you through the process.
1) Go to https://www.davidrumsey.com and log in with your free account.
2) Locate the map in the database that you'd like to import to ArcGIS; the maps can be filtered by location and date. Note that for the map to be imported directly into ArcGIS Online, it must already be georeferenced within David Rumsey (indicated by the orange "View in Georeferencer" button).
3) Click the orange "View in Georeferencer" button and the map will open up as an overlay. From here, click the orange "What Next" button in the bottom-right corner of the screen followed by "Go to this Map page" button.
4) A page containing map metadata and other information about the map will appear. In the section on the left called "Use in GIS apps," click on "Get links" and then copy the URL under "XYZ link".
5) Return to ArcGIS Online and sign in with your free account. Once signed in, click the "Map" button in the top menu bar to open a blank map.
6) To add your map from David Rumsey, click the "Add" button followed by "Add Layer from Web".
7) This will open the add layer from web dialog box. When it asks what type of data you are adding in a drop-down box, choose "A Tile Layer". This will expand the box and create a place for you to paste the XYZ URL from David Rumsey. Do so, and add the proper title and credits for your map.
8) Click "Add Layer" and the layer should be added to your map (you may have to move to the location to see it depending on the size of your map. Save by pressing the Save button in the top menu bar. Finally, make your map public by clicking the "Share" button and choosing "Everyone (public)".
9) Now it's time to add it to an empty StoryMap! Go to https://storymaps.arcgis.com/ (it may or may not ask you to log in with the same information as ArcGIS Online). Create a new blank StoryMap by selecting "New Story" --> "Guided Map Tour"
10) In your new blank tour, click the "Map Options" button in the top right corner of your empty map, then "Select Basemap" in the left-hand pane that opens up, followed by "Browse More Maps". This will open up a window showing all your self-created maps, including the one you just created
Now you can start adding points to your map tour on you historical map!
