Family History Hot Spots

Ready to take your roots research on the road? Put these 11 top stops on your genealogy itinerary:

• Boston, Mass.

We’ve highlighted Beantown’s historical treasures, but we’d be remiss not to mention its genealogical gems, such as the New England Historic Genealogical Society (617-536-5740, <www.newenglandancestors.org>) and the Boston Public Library (617-536-5400, <www.bpl.org>). Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau: (888) 733-3678, <www.bostonusa.com>

• Cincinnati, Ohio

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County’s (513-369-6905, <www.cincinnatilibrary.org/info/main/hi.asp>) vast History and Genealogy collection — noted for its African-American resources — makes this the Queen City of roots research. Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau: (800) 246-2987, <www.cincyusa.com>

• Chicago, III.

You’ll be blown away by the Windy City’s family history facilities, including the Newberry Library (312-943-9090, <www.newberry.org>), a National Archives branch (773-948-9019, <www.archives.gov/facilities/il/chicago.html>) and plentiful places for researching your immigrant and ethnic ancestors. Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau: (877) 244-2246, <www.chicago.il.org>

• Denver, Colo.

The research possibilities reach a mile high in Denver, from the National Archives’ Rocky Mountain Region facility (303-407-5700, <www.archives.gov/facilities/co/denver.html>) to the Denver Public Library’s expansive Western History and Genealogy department (720-865-1821, <www.denver.lib.co.us/whg>). Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau: (800) 233-6837, <www.denver.org>

• Fort Wayne, Ind.

Discover family history’s public-library promised land: The Allen County Public Library (260-421-1225, <acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy>) boasts the second-largest genealogy collection in the nation. Fort Wayne/A/len County Convention and Visitors Bureau: (800) 767-7752, <www.visitfortwayne.com>

• Houston, Texas

You’ll find family history resources flowing like black gold at the Houston Public Library’s Clayton Library, Center for Genealogical Research (832-393-2600, <www.houstonlibrary.org/clayton>). Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau: (800) 446-8786, <www.houston-guide.com>

• Independence, Mo.

Venture down ancestral trails at the Mid-Continent Public Library (816-252-7228, <www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/braCity of Independence, Mo., Touris Department: (800) 748-7323, <windependence.mo.us/tourism>

• Knoxville, Tenn.

Put this town on your “ones to wa In fall 2005, the East Tennessee Hi Society will unveil a new research ce Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corp. (800) 727-8045, <www.knoxville.>

• New York, NY

Bite into the Big Apple’s roots resou The American Family Immigration Center at Ellis Island (<www.ellisisla.org>), the New York Public Library (: 930-0828, <www.nypl.org/research chss/lhg/genea.html>), the New Yo Genealogical & Biographical Society (755-8532, <www.newyorkfamilyhisto org>) and a National Archives region; facility (212-401-1620, <www.archives gov/facilities/ny/new_york_city.htm> NYC and Company: (212) 484-1200, <www.nycvisit.com>

• Salt Lake City, Utah

Take a journey to genealogy’s mecca. With the world’s biggest genealogical collection — the Family History Library (801-240-2331, <www.familysearch.org>) — at your fingertips, you won’t want this pilgrimage to end. Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau (800) 541-4955, <www.visitsaltlake.com>

• Washington, DC

Home to the National Archives (866-272-6272, <www.archives.gov>), Library of Congress (202-707-8000, <www.loc.gov>) and Daughters of the American Revolution Library (202-879-3229, <www.dar.org>), Washington’s also our capital city for family history. Washington, DC, Convention and Tourism Corp.: (800) 422-8644, <www.washington.org>

From the December 2004 Family Tree Magazine