American Ancestors

American Ancestors is a national center for family history, heritage and culture, based in an eight-story research center in Boston’s Back Bay. Founded in 1845, it is one of the country’s leading resources for genealogical research. Its renovated headquarters welcomes everyone from people just starting to wonder about their roots to experienced researchers, and the Family Heritage Experience lets visitors explore family stories, identity and belonging through multimedia interactives and original artifacts, with no genealogy experience required.

For deeper digging, the Brim-DeForest Research Library holds millions of records, including manuscripts, books, microtext, photographs, artifacts and electronic resources. Staff expertise extends to the family histories of historical figures, Hollywood celebrities, British and European royal families and every US president. The Patriots of Color exhibition tells the stories of more than 26 Black, Native and multiracial Patriots from the 13 colonies and connects them to living descendants, timed to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

What to Know

• The research has been featured on “Who Do You Think You Are?” and “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.”
• The website offers “Getting Started” guides on records from census and vital records to Mayflower ancestry.
• The Vita Brevis blog publishes new research advice and family stories every week.
• Meet Boston lists it as a wheelchair-accessible, tour-friendly attraction.