Where/How is Browser History Stored for Safari 12?

If history is cleared, it is gone. Clear your browsing history in Safari on Mac - Apple Support

   Safari 12 macOS 10.13

Check Safari > History folder.

    Quit Safari.

    Close all windows and quit all other applications.

    Hold "option" key down and click "Go" menu in the Finder menu bar.

    Library will appear between “Home” and “Computer” entries in the dropdown.

    Scroll down the list and click open Safari folder.

    Scroll down a bit  and you should see History files listed.

Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J.  When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder.  Select Library. Then go to Safari. All the files that begin with History is where the information is stored.