If you are good at building things I think it would be so cool to build a dollhouse for the youngster in the family based on a historical home in your family. If you are really ambitious you could make it to scale and as accurate as possible. This is not a project for the faint of heart but it would be sure to become a family heirloom. But you could also simplify things and still make it representative of the old family home. It would be fun to furnish it with period furniture and accessories.

A simpler version of this gift idea would be to find a dollhouse to buy that has been inspired by a period of history that has some connection to your family stories.