Researching your historic property
Researching your historic property can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience that deepens your appreciation for its unique story. It allows you to uncover fascinating details about its architecture, previous owners, and the era it represents, enriching your connection to the home. Engaging with local history organizations, local archives, and online databases can reveal valuable insights and resources that make the journey even more exciting. Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious, exploring the past of your property can lead to delightful discoveries and a greater sense of pride in your home and community.
Discover the valuable insights shared by THPA Board VP M. Chris Manning in her engaging presentation on researching your historic property. We've compiled a list of useful resources to help you on your own journey of discovery.
Resources for researching your own historic property.
Topographic Maps & Aerial Imagery
HistoricAerials.com Includes modern and historic topographic maps and aerial imagery. You can quickly compare maps and aerials from different dates. These maps are not free and have watermarks, but it is an easy to use tool if you’re just doing research and don’t need a digital copy of the image.
USGS Map Locator
Good for both recent and historic topographic maps. High-resolution maps are downloadable for free.
Current Tax Parcel Data is available here on Miami County Auditor's website
VintageAerial.com provides Historic aerial photographs and bird’s eye view photos. It can be a little difficult to locate a property.
Army Air Force Aerial Imagery via National Archives
Provides aerial photographs taken by military planes in the 1940s,
Census Records, Birth & Death Records, and Other Vital Records
These resources provide information on house occupants. Information is available online (for a fee) at Ancestry.com
There is an Ancestry Library Edition available for free at many local history libraries, including the Troy-Miami County Local History & Genealogy Center
Historic Newspapers
Are available on microfilm at most local history and state libraries. they may be partially indexed, but not keyword searchable.
Available online (for a fee) is Newspapers.com . here information is searchable by keyword, date, location, paper, etc. Not every newspaper is included in the database.
Local history libraries often have free access.
Historic Atlases & Maps
Ohio History Connection Has a list of online atlases for every county in Ohio
• 1854 Map of Troy, Ohio Is available at the Troy-Miami County Local History & Genealogy Center
• 1858 Map of Miami Co., Ohio can be found here
• 1871 Atlas of Miami Co., Ohio can be found here
• 1875 Illustrated Historical Atlas of Miami County, Ohio can be found here
• 1894 Atlas of Miami County, Ohio can be found here
• 1911 Plat Book of Miami County, Ohio can be found here
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
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Library of Congress Color images available at the
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Ohio Web Library Ohio Web Library (black & white images can be found at the
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A useful and convenient “How To Get Started” PDF can be found here
Local History Books & Websites
•1880 Beers The History of Miami County, Ohio
• 1909 Harbaugh’s Centennial History of Troy, Piqua, and Miami County, Ohio
• 1920 Memoirs of the Miami Valley
• 1970 Wheeler’s Troy: The Nineteenth Century. Copies are available at the Local History and Genealogy Center
• Also check out:
– The Troy Historical Society
– Troy-Miami County Local History and Genealogy Center