Next Exit History™ (NEH) is a free GPS-based mobile app developed by University of West Florida (UWF) faculty researchers in partnership with Historical Research Associates (HRA) of Missoula, that provides information on more than 60,000 historical sites around the world. The app unites all generations, spanning iconic historical locations from the birthplace of hip hop to the Alamo. Next Exit History is putting their app to the test as they have collaborated with a UWF summer class that is road tripping cross country visiting America's greatest treasures, her national parks.


In celebration of Missoula's rich cultural heritage, Next Exit History recently added sites along the Missoula Marathon course so runners could track their footsteps through history. “In an effort to embrace the tourism strategy of the Downtown Master Plan, we were pleased to put forth Downtown Missoula as a pilot project for showcasing historical destinations on an electronic platform interesting to folks of all ages. It's been fun to see how the project has evolved,” said Linda McCarthy, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Improvement District of Missoula.

Project Director, David Strohmaier of NEH said “As a Montana-based company, HRA is proud to be on the cutting edge of both historical interpretation and technology, making history relevant to 21st century audiences. Missoula sits at the confluence of great trout streams, has been a corridor for travelers from tribes en route to hunt bison in Eastern Montana to transcontinental railroads, and is the gateway to some of the wildest country in the Lower 48. When it comes to Missoula, history really does run through it!”