Moving to ArcGIS StoryMaps

A helpful guide for authors transitioning from Esri's classic storytelling templates

This article was published in July 2019 and has been updated several times. The most recent update was February 2025.

A new generation...

In July 2019, Esri launched  ArcGIS StoryMaps —a new, modern platform for telling stories with maps. This means everyone in the Esri community has access to two storytelling tools:

  • The current-generation platform, ArcGIS StoryMaps
  • The classic Esri Story Maps templates (now in extended support)

Esri's classic storytelling templates include: Cascade, Journal, Series, Shortlist, Swipe & Spyglass, and Tour.


Which storytelling tool should I use?

If you have never used Esri's classic storytelling tools, the choice is easy. We recommend you jump right in and use ArcGIS StoryMaps. It's chock-full of storytelling capability; uses the most modern design patterns, accessibility standards, and technology; and is the platform of the future that receives frequent updates with new features and capabilities.

If you have worked with Esri's classic storytelling tools, it's likely that you have some favorite storytelling patterns and features you've grown accustomed to. The rest of article will help you decide how to transition to Esri's latest and greatest storytelling platform, ArcGIS StoryMaps.


What about my classic stories?

The classic templates have moved to the later phases of the Esri Support Lifecycle, which means they are not current technology and won't be around forever. As web browsers and other related technologies change, things may stop working as expected at some point. These things are difficult to predict with any certainty, so it's strongly advised that everyone plan and implement a transition from the older classic templates to the current-generation ArcGIS StoryMaps as soon as possible.

It's strongly advised that everyone plan and implement a transition from the classic templates to ArcGIS StoryMaps as soon as possible.

For more details about the transition plan for the classic templates, see below.

Current status of classic templates

For the latest information on the classic template transition plan, see the article below...

Update on available functionality (June 2020)

As of June 2020, most major pieces of functionality from the classic templates are now represented in ArcGIS StoryMaps.

We recommend all storytellers evaluate ArcGIS StoryMaps for new storytelling projects and actively migrate classic stories that are still in wide use. If there is a feature that is not available in ArcGIS StoryMaps, please drop us a note on the  Esri Community  (formerly GeoNet) site so we can consider it for the future.

Classic transition plan (November 2019)

Details of the earliest transition plan that was shared in 2019 are available for archival purposes  here , but it is no longer current. For the latest information, see the update from December 2022, above.


Do I need to switch?

In a word, yes.

It's been several years since the release of ArcGIS StoryMaps (and since we  initially announced  the transition of the classic templates). In that time we've released shiny, new versions of all the most popular classic templates and features. No matter what types of stories you're making with our classic templates you'll find something similar (but more modern!) in ArcGIS StoryMaps.

As mentioned above, the classic templates are in extended support and moving through the later stages of the support lifecycle. Creating new stories with templates that are in extended support is not recommended. Everyone should be using ArcGIS StoryMaps for new projects. If you have high-profile classic stories that are getting a lot of traffic, it is recommended that you look at recreating them in ArcGIS StoryMaps so they have a bright future.

Creating new stories with templates that are in extended support is not recommended.

Everyone should be using ArcGIS StoryMaps for new projects.

If you have high-profile classic stories still in wide use, it's recommended that you recreate them in ArcGIS StoryMaps so they have a bright future.

Benefits of using ArcGIS StoryMaps

One major advantage of ArcGIS StoryMaps is flexibility. Since there is a single story builder—rather that individual templates—you can, for example, combine Cascade-like elements with Journal-like elements in the same story or drop a tour in the middle of a scrolling, Cascade-like story. You're not limited to one layout, so you can mix 'n' match your favorite classic storytelling patterns in new and creative ways! And it will all look great on tablets and phones without you lifting a finger (which was, unfortunately, not the case if you decided to embed classic templates inside each other).

With ArcGIS StoryMaps you're not limited to one layout, so you can mix 'n' match your favorite classic storytelling patterns in new and creative ways!

On top of the flexibility of combining story patterns, ArcGIS StoryMaps have many new features never before available in Esri's storytelling tools. These include a  theme builder , autosave, undo/redo, timelines, the ability to duplicate a story or make private changes to stories you've already published, enhanced performance, previews of how your story will look on different devices, 3D map tours, and much more! The article below has a lot more about why we launched a new storytelling platform and why we think you'll love using it.

Oh, and there is also an exciting new type of map you can create right inside the story builder. It's called an  express map , and it provides a great experience for making quick, simple maps. For more on how express maps can enhance your stories, check out the article below.

Want to see some amazing examples of what others are already doing with ArcGIS StoryMaps? Check out the StoryMaps community gallery.

How do I switch?

Below is a summary of the ArcGIS StoryMaps versions of the popular classic templates and features. Each section corresponds to one of the classic templates and describes what blocks and features of ArcGIS StoryMaps you can use to recreate these familiar classic experiences.

You can use these links to jump directly to the template you're most interested in learning about:  tour ,  cascade ,  journal ,  swipe ,  series ,  shortlist .

Tour

In January 2020, ArcGIS StoryMaps was updated with the ability to create place-based tours using a  guided tour . Improvements over the classic tour include the ability to add multiple pieces of media to each place and support for video in addition to images.

Guided Tour layout comparison

Some popular features of the classic tour template were using your own basemap or adding your own reference layers to a tour. These capabilities were added to the new guided tour block in the July 2020 update to ArcGIS StoryMaps.

Guided Tour: Use a Web Map as the Tour Basemap

You can create map tours manually—by adding media, titles, and descriptions to each location—or you can upload a set of photos to get started quickly. If the photos are geotagged, they will be automatically placed on the map.

Cascade

The basic layout of a story in ArcGIS StoryMaps is a scrolling narrative, just like Cascade. You can stack text and media content to create a rich story for your readers. You can also add a credits section at the end of the story for all your citations and references.

A Cascade-like story section in ArcGIS StoryMaps

The  sidecar  block has a floating panel layout that borrows heavily from the Cascade immersive section. As of July 2020, there are several panel sizes and styles available both with and without a background.

Sidecar: Previewing the Floating Panel Layout

As an added bonus, you can utilize  map actions  and/or  map choreography  in a sidecar to engage readers even more in their scrollytelling experience. (See the  Journal  section below for more information about actions.)

If you want to change things up a bit, a  slideshow  is similar to a Cascade immersive with full-screen media and a floating narrative panel. The navigation for a slideshow is horizontal rather than vertical, which is a departure from Cascade, but the appearance is similar.

Slideshow is reminiscent of a Cascade immersive

Finally, if you utilized Cascade's bookmarks feature, the ArcGIS StoryMaps builder enables you to add a story navigation bar with links to the main sections of your story. This feature was added in the March 2020 update and can be found in the Design panel.

Navigation: Using Configured Story Navigation

Journal

The  sidecar  docked panel layout is very similar to the experience of a classic Journal. There's a large media panel on one side (you can think of this as the classic "main stage") and a narrative panel on the other. As readers scroll through the narrative for each slide in the sidecar, the media changes to match the narrative.

Sidecar can help you build a Journal-like experience in ArcGIS StoryMaps

In sidecars, you can also create action buttons that  choreograph map movements  for your readers to help drive your narrative and make it interactive.

Configure Map Actions

And as of December 2020, you can now create inline link-style actions similar to the way actions looked in the classic Journal template.

Map Actions: Configure Link Style Map Actions

The article below gives you some great ideas and inspiration for how to effectively use the sidecar block in your stories.

Swipe

The June 2020 update added a new swipe block. Swipe is a popular interactive experience that lets you create a comparison between two maps. You can use it to present your readers with a before-and-after view of aerial imagery in a disaster zone, compare the similarities or differences between two demographic metrics, or show change over time.

Swipe: Configure a New Block

In July 2020, swipe was enhanced so that you can now create a swipe with images, a capability never before available in the classic template.

Swipe: Configure an Image Swipe Block

Series

A collection is similar to the bulleted layout of the classic Series template. Currently, you can add stories and ArcGIS apps to a collection. Like Series, we anticipate collections will be a popular presentation tool, and that it will also help you create useful sets of related content to share with others.

As of July 2020, collections now can be configured with navigation options similar to the tabbed and bulleted layouts of the classic Series template.

Collections: Tabbed and Bulleted Navigation

Many of you also used Series to walk readers through a set of media or map views. The previously mentioned slideshow is great for this. Each slide has a panel for some descriptive text, and the background can reuse maps to show a different extent or set of visible layers in each slide.

Slideshows can create experiences similar to a classic Series story

Another popular use of Series was to create a "binder" of useful maps and apps to provide resources related to an event, such as a natural disaster. For this use case, we recommend the new Instant App called Portfolio. Check out the article below for more information about this useful app.

Shortlist

In September 2020, the explorer map tour was added to ArcGIS StoryMaps. Explorer tours are a great compliment to  guided map tours , which are designed to lead readers through smaller sets of places in a specific order. And in February 2025, the categorized map tour layout was added enabling you to create map tours with different sets of locations denoted by different colors and icons.

Explorer tours provide the ability to share larger set of places (up to 200) with your audience. Readers can explore the places in whatever order they like.

Explorer Map Tour: Add an Explorer Tour to Your Story

Because explorer tours let you showcase larger sets of places, it can be useful to create them using information you are already collecting or managing somewhere else. In addition to creating an explorer tour manually or from a set of photos, you can also create them from feature services generated in other ArcGIS apps like Survey123, Field Maps, Quick Capture, or the map viewer.

Map Tour: Create a Tour from Point Data

For more on using explorer tours in your stories, check out the article below.

More information

For more information about some of these new storytelling experiences, check out the many great articles on the ArcGIS StoryMaps blog.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter  @ArcGISStoryMaps  to get the latest updates, tips, tricks, and storytelling inspiration.

You can also subscribe to our email newsletter, What's New in ArcGIS StoryMaps. It always comes with tons of great content to scratch your StoryMaps itch.


Even more resources

If you're in the mood to do some additional reading and learn more about ArcGIS StoryMaps, check out the articles and resources below.


About this story

This resource was created by Owen, a product engineer on the StoryMaps development team, using ArcGIS StoryMaps. He invites you to go ahead and  get started  on a story of your own.

A Cascade-like story section in ArcGIS StoryMaps

Slideshow is reminiscent of a Cascade immersive

Sidecar can help you build a Journal-like experience in ArcGIS StoryMaps

Slideshows can create experiences similar to a classic Series story