diff --git a/blockheader.go b/blockheader.go
index 28f75cba..9eb643e6 100644
--- a/blockheader.go
+++ b/blockheader.go
@@ -63,6 +63,26 @@ func (h *BlockHeader) BlockSha() (ShaHash, error) {
 	return sha, nil
 }
 
+// Deserialize decodes a block header from r into the receiver using a format
+// that is suitable for long-term storage such as a database while respecting
+// the Version field.
+func (h *BlockHeader) Deserialize(r io.Reader) error {
+	// At the current time, there is no difference between the wire encoding
+	// at protocol version 0 and the stable long-term storage format.  As
+	// a result, make use of readBlockHeader.
+	return readBlockHeader(r, 0, h)
+}
+
+// Serialize encodes a block header from r into the receiver using a format
+// that is suitable for long-term storage such as a database while respecting
+// the Version field.
+func (h *BlockHeader) Serialize(w io.Writer) error {
+	// At the current time, there is no difference between the wire encoding
+	// at protocol version 0 and the stable long-term storage format.  As
+	// a result, make use of writeBlockHeader.
+	return writeBlockHeader(w, 0, h)
+}
+
 // NewBlockHeader returns a new BlockHeader using the provided previous block
 // hash, merkle root hash, difficulty bits, and nonce used to generate the
 // block with defaults for the remaining fields.
@@ -79,7 +99,9 @@ func NewBlockHeader(prevHash *ShaHash, merkleRootHash *ShaHash, bits uint32,
 	}
 }
 
-// readBlockHeader reads a bitcoin block header from r.
+// readBlockHeader reads a bitcoin block header from r.  See Deserialize for
+// decoding block headers stored to disk, such as in a database, as opposed to
+// decoding from the wire.
 func readBlockHeader(r io.Reader, pver uint32, bh *BlockHeader) error {
 	var sec uint32
 	err := readElements(r, &bh.Version, &bh.PrevBlock, &bh.MerkleRoot, &sec,
@@ -92,7 +114,9 @@ func readBlockHeader(r io.Reader, pver uint32, bh *BlockHeader) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// writeBlockHeader writes a bitcoin block header to w.
+// writeBlockHeader writes a bitcoin block header to w.  See Serialize for
+// encoding block headers to be stored to disk, such as in a database, as
+// opposed to encoding for the wire.
 func writeBlockHeader(w io.Writer, pver uint32, bh *BlockHeader) error {
 	sec := uint32(bh.Timestamp.Unix())
 	err := writeElements(w, bh.Version, &bh.PrevBlock, &bh.MerkleRoot,