House History

Historical Research Maps: Plat Maps

Gaze into your ancestor's past with plat maps, which show the divisions of land in your ancestor's neighborhood.

Case Study: Using Old Maps and City Directories to Research House History Premium

See how our genealogy expert used old maps and city directories to trace the history of a 19th-century home; even though the street name, address, and city and county had all changed over time.

Reconstructing Your Ancestor’s Neighborhood Premium

We'll show you how to use old records, maps and photos to recreate the place your family called home, and open a window into their lives.

Free Online Resources for Tracing House Histories

From genealogist to house historian isn't a big leap. Here are some free websites you can use to help research your house history.

House Histories: Do You Believe in Ghost Signs?

This was a totally unexpected find: I was casually searching the Library of Congress website for old images of Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, where several ancestors lived. This photo popped up in my results: The building closest to the camera was once my great-great-grandfather's cigar store and family home. The...