As a child, I was fascinated by the antiques in my paternal grandparents' Ohio home: an English ironstone tea set, a copper bed warmer and an assortment of thingamajigs they'd repurposed as lamps. But I never thought to ask where these antiques came from, how old they were or even what they were until after my grandparents had died.

Although it's too late to go straight to the source, it's not too late to learn the histories of these heirlooms and their significance. In doing so, I've gained insight into my grandparents' personalities and their ways of life. You can start investigating the stories behind your family's keepsakes — and preserving them for future generations — by following these 10 steps.