By MATT MAURY

Many folks are curious about the history of their homes. When was it built? Who has owned it? Is there anything of interest that has happened in it during prior ownerships? The easiest place to begin one's search is by contacting longtime residents of the neighborhood. Often these neighbors will know a lot about a home; they may even know how to contact prior owners or their relatives - ancestors, in the case of some older Seattle homes.

More serious searching starts at the State Historical Division of Archives and Records in Bellevue. Back in the 1930s a project was undertaken to record photos of every home in King County. These records were updated with a second photo during the 1950s, for homes with known improvements. Armed with the property tax legal account number, (shown on both the yearly valuation notice and the tax bill, or available from the County Assessor's Office, 206-296-7300), a person can contact the Archives and Records Office to make an appointment for doing research. A phone call to 425-564-3940 will start the process rolling.

The next stop in any search should be at Room 311 of the County-City Building (500 Fourth Avenue) in downtown Seattle. That is the Recorder's Office for the King County Records Division. Starting with the current owner of a piece of property, you can work your way back through time by finding the record of sale for each time the property changed ownership. A careful reading of each Deed of Sale may give interesting insights into the history of the property.

Another stop in the same building should be in Room 700A. There you will find the Department of Assessments and the property tax values through time. Also available there are plot maps of King County that show property divisions.

Another source for maps is in the Humanities Section of the downtown Seattle Public Library (Fourth and Madison). Besides the Kroll Atlas of the County, as found in the Department of Assessments, there are Sanborn Maps, which may have more details.

One thing that shouldn't be overlooked in discovering the history of a home is a search for information within the home. Building, plumbing and electrical permits are sometimes found in basements, attics, or built-in cupboards. When remodeling takes place, be sure to check behind walls and ceilings, or under floors, for anything of interest. You never know what trinket of history might turn up.

For those who are not interested in the history of one particular home, but, rather, have a general interest in the houses of Seattle, there is an organization called Historic Seattle. Two of its future events are a Bungalow & Craftsman Style Home Fair on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 and a Restoration Remodeling Class on Oct. 16 and 23. Information about both can be obtained by phoning 206-622-6952.

Another organization with interesting programs is the Seattle Architectural Foundation, which provides guided walking tours focusing on architecture and urban design. Two of its future tours are "Montlake: A Primer of Residential Styles" on Sept. 30 and "Belltown Inns" on Sept. 20. Information about both can be obtained by phoning 206-667-9186 or at the Web site: www.seattlearchitectural.org.