A graph exploration module is described which displays graph data (or any data set) using any one of an extensible collection of chart types. Some of the chart types may present aggregated results associated with the graph data. One chart type provides bars which represent aggregations of nodes in the graph data and a collection of links which represent relationships among the bars. The graph exploration module may present the chart in the context of an interactive exploration panel within an exploration canvas. A user can make various selections which prompt the graph exploration module to generate a new exploration panel, together with a link which connects to the new panel to the previous panel. This process can be repeated any number of times to produce one or more exploration paths which reveal a history of exploration actions made by the user(s). That history can be saved and later retrieved.