Place-based history
What was here in 1776?
This is one of the best local 250th questions. For some communities the answer may be Indigenous land, frontier settlement, colonial town, farmland, mission, port, trail, or wilderness by later European-American records.
Research checklist
- Local historical society records.
- County histories.
- Old maps and land grants.
- Tribal history resources and consultation where appropriate.
- Church, cemetery, and courthouse records.
- Newspaper archives for 1876 and 1976 commemorations.