Frequently Asked Questions

What is Misplaced Histories?

Misplaced Histories is a location-based storytelling app that uses artificial intelligence to surface the real history of any place on earth. Point your phone at anywhere — a parking lot, a beach, a street corner, a field — and hear what actually happened there. Stories are generated on demand using verified historical sources and narrated by AI audio.

How does it work?

When you tap a location on the map or activate SEEK mode, the app uses your GPS coordinates to search multiple historical databases — Wikipedia, the Library of Congress, the National Park Service, OpenStreetMap, and others — and assembles the most surprising and compelling history it finds. An AI narrator then tells you that story in audio form.

Is this a podcast? An audiobook?

Neither. Every story is generated on demand for the specific location you're standing in or looking at. No two users hear exactly the same thing. It's more like having a historian in your pocket who knows everything about everywhere.

Who made this?

Misplaced Histories is built by This Human Experience LLC, a small independent company based in Asheville, North Carolina. It was built by one person who got tired of standing in interesting places and not knowing what happened there. Questions? Reach us at hello@misplacedhistories.app.

Are the stories true?

The stories are grounded in real historical sources — newspaper archives, government records, Wikipedia, and historical databases. However they are generated by artificial intelligence, which means they can occasionally contain inaccuracies, omissions, or details that go beyond what the source material supports. Misplaced Histories is intended for entertainment, curiosity, and wonder. Always verify significant historical claims independently.

Why do the pictures not look like the actual place?

The images are AI-generated illustrations inspired by the story — not photographs of the actual location. Think of them as mood paintings rather than documentary photographs. They're meant to evoke the feeling and era of the story rather than show you exactly what the place looks like today. We chose this approach because it lets the imagery be as surprising and atmospheric as the stories themselves.

Why does a story sometimes feel generic or not very local?

The quality of a story depends entirely on what historical records exist for that location. Places with rich documented histories produce vivid specific stories. Places with sparse records produce more general ones. We're constantly improving how we source and weight material. If a story felt flat use the thumbs down button — that feedback directly improves what gets served there in the future. You can also reach us at hello@misplacedhistories.app.

Can the AI make things up?

Yes — this is a known limitation of all AI systems called hallucination. The AI can generate plausible-sounding details that aren't in the source material. We work to minimize this through careful prompting and source grounding but we can't eliminate it entirely. If something sounds too extraordinary to be true it's worth a quick search.

Why did I get a story about something far from where I was standing?

Some locations have very little recorded history nearby. When that happens the app expands its search radius to find the most interesting story it can within a reasonable distance. We're working on being more transparent about how far away a story's source location actually is.

Can I get the same story twice?

Stories are cached — meaning once a story is generated for a location, that same story gets served to other users who visit the same spot. Over time the map fills in with a growing library of place-specific histories. If you're exploring an area nobody has visited yet you'll be the first to generate its stories.

Why are some stories about things that happened miles away?

History doesn't observe property lines. Sometimes the most significant thing that happened near a location occurred a short distance away — a battle, a settlement, a geological event. We balance proximity with significance when deciding what story to tell.

What is ROAM mode?

ROAM mode is the classic Misplaced Histories experience. You pan around a map, tap pins, and stories surface on demand. You're in control of where you explore and what you discover.

What is SEEK mode?

SEEK mode is a hands-free experience designed for driving and walking. Activate it and the app automatically queues and plays stories about places near your current location as you move through the world — like a podcast that knows exactly where you are.

Does the app work without an internet connection?

Not fully — story generation requires an internet connection. Offline route pre-downloading for SEEK mode is coming in a future update.

Does it work outside the United States?

Yes — the app works anywhere on earth. Coverage quality varies depending on how well documented a location's history is in our source databases. Major cities and historically significant areas around the world tend to have strong coverage.

Why does it ask for my location?

The entire app is built around where you are. Without location access the app can't find stories relevant to you. We only use your location in the moment to find nearby stories — we never store, track, or share your location history.

What happens if I don't allow location access?

The app will still work but centered on a default location. You can pan the map manually to explore anywhere in the world. You'll miss the magic of stories about exactly where you're standing but you can still use the full app.

Why does the app sometimes take a few seconds to generate a story?

Stories that haven't been generated before for a location are being created fresh in real time — the app is querying historical sources, generating a narrative, creating an image, and preparing audio simultaneously. This typically takes 8–15 seconds. Frequently visited locations load instantly because the story is already cached.

Can I save stories I love?

Yes — tap the save button on any story card to add it to your library. Access your saved stories anytime from the SAVED tab.

What does beta mean?

Misplaced Histories is currently in beta — meaning it's a real, working product but one that's still being actively developed and improved. You may encounter bugs, rough edges, or moments where something doesn't work perfectly. That's expected and we genuinely want to know about it.

Why is it in beta?

We're a small independent team raising funds to invest in a more stable, polished version of the app. The beta lets us get the product into real hands, learn what's working and what isn't, and build the community that will help shape what Misplaced Histories becomes.

I found a bug. How do I report it?

We genuinely want to know. Use the thumbs down button on any story that feels broken, inaccurate, or disappointing. For app bugs and technical issues email us at hello@misplacedhistories.app with a description of what happened and what device you're using. Every report goes directly to the person who built this.

A story said something that seems factually wrong. What should I do?

Tap the thumbs down button on that story. That flags it for review and removes it from rotation while we investigate. You can also email us directly at hello@misplacedhistories.app with the story title and location and what seemed incorrect.

Will my beta subscription price change?

No — beta subscribers are locked into their current pricing forever as a thank you for believing in this early. When we raise prices for new users your rate stays the same.

Does the app track where I go?

No. Your location is used only in the moment to find nearby stories. We do not log, store, or build a history of your movements. When you close the app your location data is gone.

Do you sell my data?

Never. We don't sell personal information to anyone for any reason.

What data do you collect?

We collect your account information (name and email), which stories you generate and save, your subscription status, and optional survey responses. We use this data only to operate and improve the app.

Is my payment information safe?

Yes — payments are processed by Stripe, one of the world's most trusted payment processors. We never see or store your credit card details.

How can I share feedback about my experience?

After 50 stories you'll see a short in-app survey — five quick questions, no typing required. Your answers directly shape what we build next. You can also reach us anytime at hello@misplacedhistories.app.

Can I suggest a story or a location?

Not yet — but community story submissions are on our roadmap. If you're a local historian, indigenous community member, or someone who knows something remarkable happened somewhere, we want to hear from you. Email us at hello@misplacedhistories.app.

How do I stay updated on new features?

Follow us on TikTok where we post new story discoveries regularly. You'll also receive occasional product updates by email if you've opted in.

I want to share this app with someone. What's the best way?

Just send them to misplacedhistories.app. The best thing you can do is tell them one story that surprised you and let them discover the rest themselves.