Discover the History in Your Own Town
Historical societies, roadside markers and your own memories. The stories are closer than you think.
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We’ll happily drive four hours to see a famous landmark, then walk past the old brick building downtown for 30 years without once wondering who built it. I’m as guilty as anyone. But your own town is full of stories, and finding them makes a wonderful outing for a fall morning.
1. Visit your local historical society or museum
Most counties and many towns have one, and they’re often free or ask for a small donation.
- Look for old photos of Main Street, maps, school yearbooks, and tools and toys from a hundred years ago.
- Ask the volunteers what surprised them most about the town’s history. They love that question.
- Check for special exhibits and talks, especially around holidays and anniversaries.
Many are open only a few days a week, so call ahead or check their website.
2. Go on a marker hunt
Those small roadside history signs are everywhere, and most of us drive right past them.
- The free Historical Marker Database, at hmdb.org, maps markers across the country. Type in your town and see what’s nearby.
- Pick three or four close together and make a short walk or a slow drive of it.
- Bring a friend or a grandchild, and take turns reading the markers out loud.
You’ll be surprised what happened right around the corner: an old mill, a forgotten railroad, a famous visitor.
3. Share what you remember
You’re living history too. You remember the five-and-dime, the old movie theater, the year the river flooded and what gas cost when you first learned to drive.
- Many historical societies, libraries and local newspapers collect people’s memories, photos and stories.
- Ask if they have an oral history project, where volunteers record people talking about the old days.
- Old family photos of downtown, schools or churches can be a real treasure to them. Ask before you donate; many will happily scan and return them.
Try this today
- Look up your local historical society and its hours.
- Find three historical markers near you at hmdb.org.
- Write down one memory of your town as it used to be.
Don’t forget the library
Many libraries have a local history room with old newspapers, city directories, maps and family history help. Some have newspaper archives you can search from home with your library card.
Bring the grandkids
Local history is a great outing with grandchildren. Kids love the old school desks, the hand-cranked telephones and the toys from a hundred years ago. Let them read the markers out loud and take the photos. Then tell them what the town looked like when you were their age, and where you bought penny candy or saw your first movie. It may become their favorite part of the day.
Make a day of it
Pair a museum visit with lunch at the oldest diner or bakery in town, and ask the owner how long it’s been there. Some of the best history comes with a slice of pie.
What did your town look like when you were young? Tell me in the comments.