diff --git a/src/viewer.js b/src/viewer.js
index 46321afd..6cbb8846 100644
--- a/src/viewer.js
+++ b/src/viewer.js
@@ -519,19 +519,7 @@ $.extend( $.Viewer.prototype, $.EventSource.prototype, $.ControlDock.prototype,
                 this.open(this.tileSources[this._sequenceIndex]);
 
                 if ( this.showReferenceStrip ){
-                    this.referenceStrip = new $.ReferenceStrip({
-                        id:          this.referenceStripElement,
-                        position:    this.referenceStripPosition,
-                        sizeRatio:   this.referenceStripSizeRatio,
-                        scroll:      this.referenceStripScroll,
-                        height:      this.referenceStripHeight,
-                        width:       this.referenceStripWidth,
-                        tileSources: this.tileSources,
-                        prefixUrl:   this.prefixUrl,
-                        viewer:      this
-                    });
-
-                    this.referenceStrip.setFocus( this._sequenceIndex );
+                    this.addReferenceStrip();
                 }
             }
 
@@ -2155,6 +2143,51 @@ $.extend( $.Viewer.prototype, $.EventSource.prototype, $.ControlDock.prototype,
      */
     _cancelPendingImages: function() {
         this._loadQueue = [];
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * Removes the reference strip and disables displaying it.
+     * @function
+     */
+    removeReferenceStrip: function() {
+        this.showReferenceStrip = false;
+
+        if (this.referenceStrip) {
+            this.referenceStrip.destroy();
+            this.referenceStrip = null;
+        }
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * Enables and displays the reference strip based on the currently set tileSources.
+     * @function
+     */
+    addReferenceStrip: function() {
+        this.showReferenceStrip = true;
+
+        if (this.sequenceMode) {
+            if (this.referenceStrip) {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if (this.tileSources.length && this.tileSources.length > 1) {
+                this.referenceStrip = new $.ReferenceStrip({
+                    id:          this.referenceStripElement,
+                    position:    this.referenceStripPosition,
+                    sizeRatio:   this.referenceStripSizeRatio,
+                    scroll:      this.referenceStripScroll,
+                    height:      this.referenceStripHeight,
+                    width:       this.referenceStripWidth,
+                    tileSources: this.tileSources,
+                    prefixUrl:   this.prefixUrl,
+                    viewer:      this
+                });
+
+                this.referenceStrip.setFocus( this._sequenceIndex );
+            }
+        } else {
+            $.console.warn('Attempting to display a reference strip while "sequenceMode" is off.');
+        }
     }
 });