Aubrey Discoveries

History, research and the stories beneath your feet.

Guides for local historians and history researchers. Research tips, remarkable discoveries, and the history of locations across the US.

Featured

How Colonial Land Grants Shaped the Landscape β€” and How to Research Them

Colonial land grants shaped the American landscape long before the United States existed as a nation β€” and the boundaries, road alignments, and property lines t

June 2026 Β· LOCAL HISTORY Β· 8 min readRead article β†’

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Showing 13 articles

NATIVE PEOPLES
The Trail of Tears: How to Research Native American Removal and Its Impact on Your Location

The Trail of Tears: How to Research Native American Removal and Its Impact on Your Location

June 2026 Β· 8 min read
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Homestead Act Records: What the 1862 Land Rush Reveals About Your Location

The 1862 Homestead Act Created One of America's Richest Layers of Local Historical Records

June 2026 Β· 7 min read
LOCAL HISTORY
Louisiana Historical Research: From Colonial Records to Modern Archives

Louisiana historical research is one of the most richly layered and complex undertakings in American local history. No other state combines French colonial sett

June 2026 Β· 8 min read
How to Use NRHP Nominations for Local History Research
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
How to Use NRHP Nominations for Local History Research

National Register of Historic Places nomination documents are among the most information-dense resources available to local historians β€” a single nomination can

June 2026 Β· 7 min read
Reading Historical USGS Topographic Maps for Local History Research
FIELD SKILLS
Reading Historical USGS Topographic Maps for Local History Research

Reading historical USGS topographic maps is one of the most powerful skills in local history research, giving you a precise, layered visual record of how any Am

June 2026 Β· 8 min read
CIVIL WAR
The History of Mississippi: What the Records Reveal

The History of Mississippi: What the Records Reveal

June 2026 Β· 8 min read
How to Research Land Ownership Using General Land Office Records
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
How to Research Land Ownership Using General Land Office Records

How to Research Land Ownership Using General Land Office Records

June 2026 Β· 8 min read
LOCAL HISTORY
Researching Gold Rush and Mining History for Any Western Location

Researching Gold Rush and Mining History for Any Western Location

June 2026 Β· 8 min read
The History of Illinois: What the Records Reveal
LOCAL HISTORY
The History of Illinois: What the Records Reveal

Illinois has one of the most historically layered records of any state in the nation, stretching back to French colonial settlements that predate American indep

June 2026 Β· 8 min read
Texas Historical Research: From Colonial Records to Modern Archives
LOCAL HISTORY
Texas Historical Research: From Colonial Records to Modern Archives

Texas Historical Research: From Colonial Records to Modern Archives

June 2026 Β· 8 min read
Researching New Mexico History: A Complete Guide to the Records
NATIVE PEOPLES
Researching New Mexico History: A Complete Guide to the Records

Researching New Mexico History: A Complete Guide to the Records

June 2026 Β· 8 min read
Colorado Historical Research: From Colonial Records to Modern Archives
LOCAL HISTORY
Colorado Historical Research: From Colonial Records to Modern Archives

Colorado Historical Research: From Colonial Records to Modern Archives

June 2026 Β· 8 min read
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Everything a full the United States report reveals

Pick any location and Aubrey pulls together 18 strands of its history, each drawn from the record:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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