SAN ANTONIO – An increasing number of people are interested in learning more about their family tree, and during the holidays many people will try out services or a kit to give them a peek into the past.

• Birth records become public after 75 years
• Vital records departments could be a way to learn about heritage

However, an easy way could be to make an appointment with San Antonio's Vital Records Department downtown.

"Our records go back to 1770," said San Antonio City Clerk Leticia Vacek.

Vacek said over recent years many people have had a genuine curiosity about their family tree and they come to the city's 60,000 square foot archives facility downtown.

"We do have a lot of people that come here. About 300 birth and death certificates are issued on a daily basis just from this office. So that equates to about 6,000 a month that are issued to folks that are qualified," said Vacek.

Birth records become public after 75 years.

"It's going to tell you exactly how old your parents were at the time of your birth, what their occupations were, the time of death, which doctor delivered you, where you were born, so it just adds additional information to it," said Assistant City Clerk James Wilson.

Along with vital records, you can also see documents that helped shape San Antonio.

"We have a penned Santa Anna letter, the original Alamo plat on onion skin paper, we have an original pinned letter from Porfirio Díaz who was the President at the time this was under the rule of Mexico," said Vacek.

As for finding out your family history, by making an appointment and spending around $20, you can see and hold your past.

"This is the right place to come," Vacek said.

For more information, visit the City of San Antonio website.