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There are a number of ways to begin researching the history of your house. This guide is a good starting point. The History Center has historical photos, city directories (for a list of occupants), and Sanborn maps, all of which are required for historical designation. You can submit a remote research query or request an onsite appointment to have help researching your home.
The History Center's photo store is the best place to start searching for a photograph. If you cannot find it there, you can submit a remote research query or request an onsite appointment.
The online catalog is the best place to start looking for a specific person. Another good resource is our website search function, which will also return results from the Journal of San Diego History. You can also submit a remote research query or request an onsite appointment.
We are offering onsite, fee-based appointments. If you prefer a remote option, you can request remote research query, which is conducted by a member of our staff.
The first 15 minutes of any query are free. After that, blocks of time are purchased in half hour increments at $25 per half hour ($20 per half hour for members).
Onsite research appointments cost $90 per hour, with a two hour minimum ($75 per hour for SDHC members). Appointments may be a maximum of four hours.