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GUIDE)Historic sites & local businesses · Quick start
Welcome your visitors into history.
One link. One scan. A new way to experience your location.
Your visitor link carries your access key and, when you choose one, the highlight for your location. Visitors scan its QR code on their own phones and open Running Reality in a web browser.
Create your visitor link and QR code
Your access key connects visitors to the premium features you sponsor. Include it in every visitor URL and in the URL encoded by your QR code. Visitors can use your shared access without creating accounts.
Sign in to the account that manages your location to load your access key. Your profile also has your subscription details and visitor settings.
This QR code opens the same URL, including your access key and chosen highlight. Use it on signs, flyers, welcome materials, or your website.
An example near Manassas
A location near Manassas could start visitors with the First Battle of Bull Run highlight. Its ID is 222. The highlight chooses the starting story; the access key provides your sponsored features.
https://www.runningreality.org/?key=YOUR_ACCESS_KEY&highlight=222
Replace YOUR_ACCESS_KEY with your access key.
Use your generated visitor link and QR code above when sharing with visitors.
Make it part of the visit
- Test it on a visitor's phone. Scan the QR code with a phone that is signed out of your staff account. Confirm that it opens the intended highlight and offers the features you enabled.
- At historic sites, use fixed signage. Put the QR code on entrance signs or interpretation panels so visitors can scan it when they arrive and explore throughout the site.
- For guided groups, show the scene and invite exploration. A professional guide can use an iPad to show the group a historical scene, then hold up a large printed QR code on a clipboard so group members can open the experience on their own phones.
- At local businesses, meet customers where they pause. An 8.5 × 11-inch signboard near the checkout or where customers wait for their orders gives them an easy way to discover the history around them.
- Share the same link online. Use the complete URL on your website, in a welcome email, or with a booking confirmation. Keep the access key in the link so visitors receive your sponsored experience.
Add a short prompt, such as “See what used to be here.” Keep a clear white border around the QR code and test it at its printed size before making copies.
Using an iPad outdoors. Test your screen at your tour stops to check how well the group can see it in bright daylight. Apple's optional nano-texture iPad Pro display glass reduces glare and can help when showing scenes outside. It is optional; try your existing device first. See our outdoor iPad note.
Questions before sharing
Is the access key the same as my password?
Your access key is meant to be included in the links and QR codes you share with visitors. It provides visitor access to the features you sponsor. Your account password stays private; subscription management and settings require your signed-in account.
Why does the link need both a key and a highlight?
The key connects visitors to your sponsored access. The highlight ID opens the historical story you selected. A highlight link by itself opens the content but does not include your sponsored premium features. The generator keeps both parts together.
What if there is no highlight specifically for our location?
Choose a relevant highlight nearby, or leave the highlight field empty to share access without a particular highlight. To discuss a story specific to your location, contact our team. You can also explore partnerships with sites and local businesses.
How does an access key appear in a URL?
Include your access key after key=. Add
highlight= when you want visitors to start with a particular story.
Can I make more than one QR code?
Yes. Multiple QR codes can use the same access key, and one QR code can work for your entire site. The highlight covers the whole site. When visitors allow location access, their devices use GPS to identify nearby items within that highlight, including geofenced markers, as they explore. You can reuse the same QR code on signs and visitor materials throughout the site.
If your access key is replaced, update the links and QR codes that use the old key.
What should visitors have to get started?
A phone or tablet with a web browser and an internet connection. Visitors scan the code on their own devices and open the experience without installing an app or creating an account. AR also needs a camera and location and motion sensors. Cardboard viewers are optional.
Why do I not see my key, or why are premium features unavailable?
Check that you are signed in with the account that manages the location. Review the subscription or trial and enabled visitor features in your profile. If a key from an invitation has not been paired with your account, use the profile link in that invitation to finish setup.
Need help welcoming your first visitors? Email the Running Reality team.