GetLostPGH

Home History Research – Pittsburgh

Historic red-brick Victorian-style home surrounded by trees, promoting GetLostPGH’s Home History Research service.

Every home tells a story, and I love uncovering hidden details. With my Home History Research in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas, I dig into archives, deeds, maps, newspapers, and old photographs to bring those stories to life. If you’ve ever wondered who lived in your house before you, what the neighborhood looked like a century ago, or why certain features exist, I’ll help you find the answers.

Unlike big services, I offer flexible packages and add-ons so you only pay for what you want — light or deep dives, as you prefer.

What You’ll Receive from Home History Research in Pittsburgh

When you ask me to research your home, I connect the pieces into a narrative you can actually enjoy reading. From a modest version of research to a deluxe package with art and visuals, I’ll work with your budget. Here’s what I typically deliver:

  • A clear timeline of property ownership and major changes.
  • Copies of old maps, clippings, and photos (when available).
  • Life stories of past residents, their work, and their place in the community.
  • A written history that ties everything together, so it feels alive rather than like a stack of documents.
  • Exterior Photography of your home.

Because I walk neighborhoods and know how to read them, I often notice details that connect directly to the archival research. That blend of lived perspective and historical digging makes your home’s story unique.

How It Works

  1. First, we start with a conversation – You tell me what you know (and what you’re curious about).
  2. Next, I Begin the Search – I explore deeds, census records, maps, newspapers, and local archives. Along the way, I follow every lead.
  3. Finally Your Story Arrives – I’ll deliver a digital and/or printed history of your home, complete with source material.

It won’t be a generic genealogy report. Instead, it’s your house’s story, written with care.

Rates

  • Base Package – $300: Includes an in-depth research project and a finished home history booklet (digital + print).
  • Payment is required to begin research.

Add-On Options

Want to go further? Here are ways to expand your home’s history package:

  • Neighborhood Walking Add-On – I’ll walk with you around your block or town, showing how your home fits into the larger history.
  • Framed Historic Maps – Your house highlighted on a reproduction of Hopkins, Sanborn, or other maps.
  • Custom Keepsake Booklet – A beautifully designed, gift-ready version of your home’s history.
  • Family or Community Presentation – I’ll share the story of your home in a talk for your family, neighbors, or historical group.
  • Timeline Artwork – A printed visual timeline of your home’s ownership and milestones.
  • Drone Photography (coming soon) – exterior shots that frame your home in context.

Because no two houses (or homeowners) are alike, you can pick the add-ons that feel right for your project.

Why Work With Me?

Above all, I’ve walked every street in Pittsburgh and spent years in archives. I bring both street-level detail and research skill. You won’t be dealing with an anonymous firm. You’ll be talking directly with me, someone who’s probably walked your neighborhood, wrestled in library archives, and cares deeply about detail. I turn the records into a story worth keeping, something you can share with family and treasure for years.

👉 Ready to learn your Pittsburgh home’s story?

Get Started Today!