Five Star Gift Ideas

For your grandma who has a passion for local history research, there are a variety of meaningful and personal gift ideas that can make her birthday truly special. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Personalized Research Assistant: Consider hiring a local history research intern or a student studying history or anthropology from a nearby college to assist your grandma in her research. This assistant could help her with data entry, digitizing old documents, or even conducting interviews with local residents who may have valuable information about the area's history.

2. Customized Map Poster: Create a custom map poster highlighting your grandma's favorite locations or important historical landmarks in her local area. This unique and personalized piece of art can serve as a constant reminder of her love for local history.

3. Subscription to Historical Society Publications: Check if there are any local historical societies or organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of her area. Consider gifting her a subscription to their publications or newsletters, which often include articles, photographs, and research materials related to local history.

4. Private Guided Tour: Depending on her location, you could surprise your grandma with a private guided tour of historical sites or landmarks in her local area. This could be arranged through a historical society, a local museum, or even an experienced local historian. This personalized experience will not only give her the opportunity to learn more about her community's history but also create lasting memories.

5. Oral History Kit: Help your grandma record and preserve local stories and memories by putting together an oral history kit. This can include a high-quality audio recorder or microphone, a list of interview questions, and a book or guide on how to conduct oral history interviews. This gift will empower her to capture the firsthand accounts of individuals who have lived through significant events, making her research even more enriching.

6. Antique Photograph Restoration: If your grandma has old photographs related to local history, consider getting them professionally restored. These restored images can serve as a beautiful addition to her collection and provide a window into the past, enabling her to visualize the history she researches.

7. Membership to Online Historical Databases: Many libraries, archives, and organizations offer online access to historical databases and resources. Gifting your grandma a membership to such a database can allow her to access a wide range of historical documents, newspapers, photographs, and records from the comfort of her home.

Remember to present your gift in a thoughtful and personal way, perhaps with a handwritten letter expressing your appreciation for her passion and how it has inspired you. The key is to show her that you support her love for local history research and want to enable her to continue exploring and documenting the stories that matter to her.

Or you can get her a star map with the date when she was born.

Claudia Perez says about Under Lucky Stars star maps:

“My niece LOVED it! It was her favorite gift on her sixteenth birthday. The framing was excellent. The picture quality was clear and gorgeous.”