You want to find out how to create a blank landing page on WordPress?

If this is correct…

you can duplicate the “single.php” page template and rename it as “home.php”.
Once renamed, you can remove all references to headers, navigation, footers, comments, sidebars etc.

Then when creating the page, there should be a new “home” option under page templates. Select this and then add the code for the puzzle menu into the page as per normal.

How would I duplicate the “single.php” page template? Where is it?

I realize that I am asking very basic questions. I thank you for your patience.

You use FTP or your hosting file manager to place and rename new files into theme folders. You cannot do so from within WP.

If this works out the way you want, it’s not safe to leave your custom home.php in the theme’s folder. It’ll be lost when the theme updates. To protect your page, create a child theme and keep it there.

If a page is straight HTML, you can copy paste the whole thing into the page editor when using the “code view” (thru 3 dot menu at upper right). Designate the page as your static home page in settings and you’re done.

Interactive maps usually have JavaScript associated with it, as well as external library links. These you cannot copy/paste into the editor. There are proper ways to enqueue JavaScript and link libraries separate from the editor. It gets rather involved.

Considering you have a working page external to WP, making it into a template is the easiest way forward IMO, but you need to find what works best for you.

For what it is worth, my clickable map code does NOT have an javascript in it. Maybe it should but I don’t know a thing about Java or PHP for that matter.

Thanks again.

If you managed to get what you want without JavaScript, all the better if you ask me ??