diff --git a/packages/libs/eda/src/lib/map/analysis/MapAnalysis.tsx b/packages/libs/eda/src/lib/map/analysis/MapAnalysis.tsx
index 9be247db30..77c79d2118 100644
--- a/packages/libs/eda/src/lib/map/analysis/MapAnalysis.tsx
+++ b/packages/libs/eda/src/lib/map/analysis/MapAnalysis.tsx
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ function MapAnalysisImpl(props: ImplProps) {
     setBoundsZoomLevel,
     setSubsetVariableAndEntity,
     sharingUrl,
-    setIsSubsetPanelOpen = () => {},
+    setIsSidePanelExpanded,
     setMarkerConfigurations,
     setActiveMarkerConfigurationType,
     geoConfigs,
@@ -551,9 +551,8 @@ function MapAnalysisImpl(props: ImplProps) {
       : 0;
 
   function openSubsetPanelFromControlOutsideOfNavigation() {
-    setIsSubsetPanelOpen(true);
     setActiveSideMenuId(MapSideNavItemLabels.Filter);
-    setSideNavigationIsExpanded(true);
+    setIsSidePanelExpanded(true);
   }
 
   const FilterChipListForHeader = () => {
@@ -582,7 +581,7 @@ function MapAnalysisImpl(props: ImplProps) {
           disabled={
             // You don't need this button if whenever the filter
             // section is active and expanded.
-            sideNavigationIsExpanded &&
+            appState.isSidePanelExpanded &&
             activeSideMenuId === MapSideNavItemLabels.Filter
           }
           themeRole="primary"
@@ -737,7 +736,7 @@ function MapAnalysisImpl(props: ImplProps) {
             },
             {
               type: 'item',
-              id: 'single-variable-bar',
+              id: 'single-variable-barplot',
               labelText: MarkerTypeLabels.barplot,
               leftIcon:
                 activeMarkerConfigurationType === 'barplot' ? (
@@ -1165,14 +1164,12 @@ function MapAnalysisImpl(props: ImplProps) {
   }
 
   // activeSideMenuId is derived from the label text since labels must be unique in a navigation menu
-  const [activeSideMenuId, setActiveSideMenuId] =
-    useState<string | undefined>();
+  const [activeSideMenuId, setActiveSideMenuId] = useState<string | undefined>(
+    'single-variable-' + appState.activeMarkerConfigurationType
+  );
 
   const toggleStarredVariable = useToggleStarredVariable(analysisState);
 
-  const [sideNavigationIsExpanded, setSideNavigationIsExpanded] =
-    useState<boolean>(true);
-
   // for flyTo functionality
   const [willFlyTo, setWillFlyTo] = useState(false);
 
@@ -1204,7 +1201,7 @@ function MapAnalysisImpl(props: ImplProps) {
     const index = zIndicies.findIndex(
       (panelTitle) => panelTitle === requestedPanelTitle
     );
-    const zIndexFactor = sideNavigationIsExpanded ? 2 : 10;
+    const zIndexFactor = appState.isSidePanelExpanded ? 2 : 10;
     return index + zIndexFactor;
   }
 
@@ -1261,9 +1258,9 @@ function MapAnalysisImpl(props: ImplProps) {
                   }}
                 >
                   <MapSidePanel
-                    isExpanded={sideNavigationIsExpanded}
+                    isExpanded={appState.isSidePanelExpanded}
                     onToggleIsExpanded={() =>
-                      setSideNavigationIsExpanded((isExpanded) => !isExpanded)
+                      setIsSidePanelExpanded(!appState.isSidePanelExpanded)
                     }
                     siteInformationProps={props.siteInformationProps}
                     sidePanelDrawerContents={activeSideNavigationItemMenu}
diff --git a/packages/libs/eda/src/lib/map/analysis/appState.ts b/packages/libs/eda/src/lib/map/analysis/appState.ts
index e36ca240c1..0dec5eac9f 100644
--- a/packages/libs/eda/src/lib/map/analysis/appState.ts
+++ b/packages/libs/eda/src/lib/map/analysis/appState.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ export const AppState = t.intersection([
     }),
     activeMarkerConfigurationType: MarkerType,
     markerConfigurations: t.array(MarkerConfiguration),
+    isSidePanelExpanded: t.boolean,
   }),
   t.partial({
     boundsZoomLevel: t.type({
@@ -99,7 +100,6 @@ export const AppState = t.intersection([
       entityId: t.string,
       variableId: t.string,
     }),
-    isSubsetPanelOpen: t.boolean,
   }),
 ]);
 
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ export function useAppState(uiStateKey: string, analysisState: AnalysisState) {
       viewport: defaultViewport,
       mouseMode: 'default',
       activeMarkerConfigurationType: 'pie',
+      isSidePanelExpanded: true,
       markerConfigurations: [
         {
           type: 'pie',
@@ -222,7 +223,7 @@ export function useAppState(uiStateKey: string, analysisState: AnalysisState) {
     ),
     setMarkerConfigurations: useSetter('markerConfigurations'),
     setBoundsZoomLevel: useSetter('boundsZoomLevel'),
-    setIsSubsetPanelOpen: useSetter('isSubsetPanelOpen'),
+    setIsSidePanelExpanded: useSetter('isSidePanelExpanded'),
     setSubsetVariableAndEntity: useSetter('subsetVariableAndEntity'),
     setViewport: useSetter('viewport'),
   };