"The digital age has vastly boosted the power of maps to tell stories. Maps, once static, are now dynamic, and can be combined with multimedia content to tell stories in exciting new ways". Maps, Minds, and Stories by Allen Carroll ESRI Story Map Team Founder
This is just a small example of story maps chosen because of their relevance to the Southwest. There are hundreds of others to explore and inspire you.
The Library of Congress Geography and Map Reading Room Story Maps
ESRI's Story Map Gallery