Researching Historic Homes & Buildings: Additional Resources

This Old House: How to Research the History of Your House

How Old Is Your House? A Guide to Finding the Age of Older Homes

Uncovering Your Home's History

House Histories

National Register Bulletin: Researching a Historic Property (National Park Service)

A Guide to Researching the History of a House - Home Advisor

The Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) exists to document, preserve and promote Wyoming history through its historical locations and landscapes. They can help provide information about properties that are already listed on the National Register of Historic Places or help to nominate a property. The State Archaeologist can assist with prehistoric sites.

The SHPO office also administers the Centennial Farm and Ranch program to honor families that have owned and operated the same farm or ranch for 100 years or more. If you are interested in nominating a family, please contact SHPO. 

Several historical contexts are available through the SHPO office on topics like homesteading, ranching, and the military in Wyoming. These contexts give broad information about these themes and how they fit into the broader scope of Wyoming history. 

Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office
2301 Central Avenue
Barrett Building, Third Floor
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
Phone: 307-777-7697
Fax: 307-777-6421

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources.

If your property has already been listed, chances are good that a history of the property already exists as a part of the nomination form. These can be found on Wyoming's SHPO website. 

If your property has not been listed, but you believe it is historically significant, the Wyoming SHPO can help guide you through the nomination process. 

The Historic Preservation Board protects, enhances and perpetuates historic structures and other areas of historical value and promotes use of historic districts and landmarks for the education, pleasure and welfare of the community.

Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board
2101 O'Neil Ave., rm 309
Cheyenne, WY 82001

City Engineers' offices and City Planning Offices can be wonderful sources of information on historic properties, including:

• Building plans
• Permits for construction and modification
• Neighborhood planing

City Council minutes may also mention:

• Easements
• Changes in use and zoning
• Street renaming or renumbering
• Destruction or demolition

Find a list of municipalities in Wyoming at Wyoming Association of Municipalities 

Newspapers may contain information about the families living in a home or the house itself. If the structure was moved from its original location, you may find a story about the move in the newspaper.

The Wyoming State Archives houses the most extensive collection in the state of newspapers published in Wyoming. Microfilmed papers date from around 1867 to the present, with current issues added as they are published. Copies of many of the microfilm rolls can be requested through interlibrary loan from Coe Library at the University of Wyoming. Papers published prior to 1923 are available online through Wyoming Newspapers.

Taken every 10 years, the Federal Census provides an official count of the United States population. Census records provide a wide range of information about an individual, their family history and household.  In a Census, you can find information such as:

• names of family members
• ages at a certain point in time
• their state or country of birth
• their parent's birthplaces
• year of immigration and citizenship status
  
• street address
• marriage status and years of marriage
• occupation(s)
• value of their home and personal belongings

Access to Census records are restricted for 72 years. The most current year available is 1940.  For more information on these records, check out the National Archives Census Records information page.

How can I access Census records online?

• FamilySearch.org  (free)
• Ancestry.com (free to use at most public libraries, otherwise by subscription)

Oral histories can help fill in gaps in the historical records. 

• Previous owners - ask individuals who used to live or work in the building about their memories. Often they can help pinpoint dates of construction or additions or describe changes that were made. They might even have photos in their personal collections of the property
• Neighbors - talk to neighbors and ask them what they know about the property or if any previous owners or their families are still in the area
• Local historical societies, museum and archives - oral histories recorded with previous owners of the building may mention features or dates not easily found elsewhere

Local libraries and museums are wonderful resources for information about their communities. 

Wyoming Libraries Directory
List of Museums in Wyoming