The charming historic mansion of the American Institute of Architects Santa Barbara Chapter on Victoria Street welcomed members and guests to the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara Spring 2026 Lecture presented by author Betsy J. Green.

The author of “Discovering the History of Your House and Your Neighborhood,” Green shared her experiences researching notable houses, as well as the history of the family living in each home, and sometimes forgotten secrets.

She offered information on implementing the bevy of resources available to unlock the mystery of a home’s history. Included were helpful listings with easy-to-use contact references to complete a home history search with minimum stress.

There are specific city directories, census records, vital records, voter registrations, and other sources available to do a home history search, and during the lecture Green shared various short cuts to assist anyone on their quest.

Learning who lived in your home; finding visual clues like old photos in online newspapers; learning who the architect was or who built your house; and collecting information through research sources or actual contact with former home owners or their descendants are not unlike unraveling the details of a mystery novel.

“Thanks to the internet, it is now easier than ever to follow the paper trail and the people trail for delving into a home’s history,” Green said.

During a Q&A guests were able to request specific information from Green, who shared facts on her first house search details in the Chicago area through some unique recent searches she has assisted on.

Attendees learned about the organizations in Santa Barbara where they could obtain the specific history facts they might require.

Green is a former staff editor of World Book Encyclopedia and associate editor of Reader’s Digest. She is a noted house historian who has been researching and writing about house histories for about 10 years.

Green has taught house history research at adult educational programs throughout the Chicago area, and has written nominations to list buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. She gives presentations for libraries, historical societies and community groups.

“Discovering the History of Your House and Your Neighborhood” is one of the Betsy J. Green Way Back When series of 14 books she has authored.

Learn more at www.betsyjgreen.com.

The Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara offers walking tours to experience the history of Santa Barbara’s past architecture, focusing on style, significant and historic buildings, aesthetics, past and present building usage, landscape and overall history.

The two-hour tours are held weekly year-round, with a donation of $20 (children under 12 are free). For more, visit the Architectural Foundation.