history day websites

The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet.

National History Day: Turning Points in History

Every year, the nonprofit National History Day organization puts on a competition in which students in grades 6–12 choose a topic in history based on an annual theme. After thinking critically about a topic’s significance, students conduct extensive research in libraries, archives, and museums and then present their conclusions and evidence in their choice of a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website. They enter their projects at local, state, and national levels, where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators. HistoryNet is proud to collaborate with National History Day to provide resources for this year’s theme: Turning Points in History .

Table of Contents

Check out the 2024 nhd theme video: turning points in history.

Donate to National History Day

National History Day needs your help to ensure its programs reach hundreds of thousands of students and teachers across the country. Make your tax-deductible contribution today.

How to Use HistoryNet

Frontiers in race.

Why the Civil Rights Movement Was Really a Guerrilla War

In this excerpt from his new book, “Waging a Good War,” Tom Ricks explains why the fight for equality had to use military tactics to achieve its goals.

‘The Woman King’ and the Warrior Women of Dahomey: Has Hollywood Finally Gotten History Right?

‘They Are Marines, Period’: Trailblazing All-Black Marine Unit From WWII to Feature in New Docuseries

The History of Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court

A View From the North: Union Women’s Wartime Memoirs

A 19th Century Black Success Story: The Downing Family

A New Firsthand Account of the 54th’s Assault on Fort Wagner

Read All Stories About Frontiers in Race —>

You can get free access to all 25,000+ HistoryNet stories. Just send us:

Subscribe to 3 HistoryNet magazines for your classes and get:

• 40% off if your school reimburses you
• 50% off if you’re paying out of your own pocket
• Beautiful print editions delivered quarterly to your classroom
• Digital access to 25,000+ HistoryNet stories — for you and up to 30 students
• Free : The weekly HistoryNet Now! newsletter

Institutions

Libraries, schools, and districts can subscribe to all 9 HistoryNet magazines and get:

• 25% off the standard price — plus steeper discounts for multiple bundles
• High-quality magazines delivered quarterly to libraries and/or classrooms
• Digital access to 25,000+ HistoryNet stories — for the whole school or district

Women’s Frontiers

See the Real Rosie the Riveters at Work

Compelling images from aircraft factories in World War II underscore the impact women had assembling the arsenal of democracy.

Simone Segouin, Famed French Resistance Fighter, Dies at 97

Nurses in Vietnam: Putting Themselves in Danger to Keep Men Alive

Nurses, Activists, Soldiers, Spies: Women’s Roles During the Civil War

How one civil war widow revolutionized health care, who was polly adler, the celebrity madame of the roaring twenties, old ironsides gets its first female commanding officer, mott, stanton and anthony: the friendship that won women the right to vote.

Read All Stories About Women’s Frontiers —>

Frontiers in Thought

Is Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series Really Anti-Irish? And Where Did That Stereotype Come From, Anyway?

“The Rings of Power” has sparked a controversy. But don’t blame Jeff Bezos for that ugly Irish cliche.

How the Civil War Inspired the Commodities Market

Sherlock Holmes: The History of the Mystery

A Brief History of Spider-Man

The History of the Separation of Church and State in the US

How Abortion Became a Hot-Button Issue … in the 1800s

How Did Columbus Day Become Indigenous Peoples Day?

Read All Stories About Frontiers in Thought —>

LGBTQ+ Frontiers

Jimi Hendrix Pretended to Be Gay to Get Out of the Army

At the time, the military viewed homosexuality as a “manifestation of a severe personality defect.”

Born Straddling Lines of Gender and Color, Pauli Murray Stitched Together a Life of Extraordinary Accomplishment

New WWI Movie Centers on an ‘Unexpected Love Story’ Between Two Men

Famed Doctor Tom Dooley Secretly Helped CIA

Interview: rebecca l. davis / marriage historian.

Women, Combat, and the Gender Line

Confederate Con Artist Loreta Velasquez

Read All Stories About LGBTQ+ Frontiers —>

Exploring the Frontier

Operation Highjump: 1946-47 Expedition to Explore Antarctica From the Air

In Latest Film, Director Espen Sandberg Explores the Man Behind the First Successful South Pole Expedition

This Week In History: The 1804 Lewis and Clark Expedition

Decision point in the lewis and clark expedition.

Carving a Path Through the Grand Canyon in 1869

Read All Stories About Exploring the Frontier —>

Frontiers of the Ancient World

Alexander the Great Captured This Island With Innovative Engineering and—As Usual—His Personal Bravery

They mocked him for challenging Poseidon, god of the sea. But they soon learned Alexander feared nothing.

Brunanburh: The Little-Known Battle That Unified England

Celts versus Vikings, more than a century before Hastings.

Interview: Simon Elliott / Uncovering the Legacy of Rome’s ‘Pirate King’

New research sheds light on the life and leadership of a Roman naval commander who seized strategic water routes and defied the empire.

Read All Stories About Frontiers of the Ancient World —>

Indigenous Frontiers

The Warriors Who Nearly Destroyed Cortés—Before Joining Him

As Hernán Cortés made his way toward the Aztecan heart of Mexico, the conquistador ran up against the Tlaxcalans, a people who could ally with or annihilate him.

The Supreme Court Case That Decided Indian Sovereignty

Navajos in canyon de chelly, this indigenous hero won the military cross for valor. his son would star in ‘the lone ranger.’, the pequot massacres: how a native american tribe survived a puritan extermination campaign, white captives, tribal comrades.

Mo-chi: First Female Cheyenne Warrior

Once a child captive, dr. carlos montezuma became a voice for american indians, codemakers: history of the navajo code talkers, why was life so hard for the pilgrims, smallpox blankets: myth or massacre, the pilgrims’ first encounter with indians.

Read All Stories About Indigenous Frontiers —>

historynet magazines

Our 9 best-selling history titles feature in-depth storytelling and iconic imagery to engage and inform on the people, the wars, and the events that shaped America and the world.

Political Frontiers

Is Taiwan a Country? Why the US and China Are So Worked Up Over the Island

Why is China firing live missiles over Taiwan? How did this rocky little island become a thorn in the side of superpowers?

Watch the Nixon-Khrushchev Kitchen Debate

Who Was Mother Jones?

History of the Condom: Why It’s Still the Only Contraception for Men

Read All Stories About Political Frontiers —>

World Frontiers

When the Mongols Set Out to Conquer the World, There Was Only One Limiting Factor: Grass

The steppe nomads invented the operational level of war, with the essential nutrient for their herds dictating where — and when — they fought.

Thermopylae: How the Spartans Saved the Constitution, Capitalism and Chick-fil-A

Genghis Khan’s Secrets of Success

Was Alexander the Great One of History’s Worst Monsters?

Hernán Cortés: Master of the Conquest

What Countries Had Gay Rights First?

Why Did the Roman Empire Fall?

Scientific frontiers.

James Holland on How Google Maps Is Revealing D-Day’s Remaining Secrets

My Grandpa Owned a Radioactive Souvenir From the Manhattan Project. Was This Safe?

A History of Apps: How Mobile Computer Programs Took Over the World in Just 25 Years

Civil War Anesthesia Wasn’t Just a Slug of Whiskey: Inside the New 19th-Century Science of Battlefield Painkillers

Read All Stories About Scientific Frontiers —>

The Final Frontiers: Air & Space

How Quick Thinking Saved the First Airliner to Break the Sound Barrier

In August 1961 a crew of Douglas Aircraft test pilots proved the new DC-8’s worth by diving it through the speed of sound

Interview: Fred Haise / The Best Time of This Apollo 13 Astronaut’s Career? …It Wasn’t Space

History of MiGs: The Fighter Planes That Protected—and Survived—the USSR

Female Flyers: Meet the Woman Who Strapped Her Feet to a Plane

Wright brothers: a promise of flight fulfilled, how ‘speedy pete’ piloted the fastest flight ever made by a manned aircraft, he created america’s first airliner—but was he a visionary or a crackpot, it was the most powerful engine ever created. rocketdyne engineers just had to ensure it didn’t blow up, how troops in vietnam saw the first moon landing.

Read All Stories About ‘The Final Frontiers’ —>

The Wild West

How a Young Jewish Immigrant Widow Launched a Ranching Dynasty in New Mexico Territory

After her husband’s untimely death, Yetta Kohn joined forces with her sons and daughter to run the family store, bank and ranch.

Killing Billy the Kid

Watch One of the Greatest Westerns of All Time in Its Entirety Here

Doc Holliday’s Life and Death Were the Stuff of Legend. The Facts Are Even More Amazing

How Billy the Kid Died, as Sheriff Pat Garrett Tells It

Read All Stories About the Western Frontier —>

Disability Frontiers

The Top 10 One-Eyed Commanders of All-Time

Despite physical impairment, these captains let nothing stand in the way of their vision for war.

How a One-Armed Outfielder Became an Inspiration to Wounded WWII Veterans

The Blinding of a WWII Vet Opened America’s Eyes to the Evil of Jim Crow

Amputee Veterans Proved They Wouldn’t Be Left Out

Englishman montague stevens was a legendary one-armed grizzly hunter.

Encounter: Helen Keller Touches Mark Twain’s Heart

One-armed deputy u.s. marshal ed johnson once chased after the marlow brothers.

Read All Stories About Disability Frontiers —>

• Search Grant Programs
• Application Review Process
• Manage Your Award
• Grantee Communications Toolkit
• Search All Past Awards
• Divisions and Offices
• Professional Development
• Workshops, Resources, & Tools
• Sign Up to Be a Panelist
• Emergency and Disaster Relief
• Equity Action Plan
• States and Jurisdictions
• Featured NEH-Funded Projects
• Humanities Magazine
• Information for Native and Indigenous Communities
• Information for Pacific Islanders
• Search Our Work
• American Tapestry
• Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative
• Humanities Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence
• Pacific Islands Cultural Initiative
• United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture
• A More Perfect Union
• NEH Leadership
• Open Government
• Contact NEH
• Press Releases
• NEH in the News

National History Day

What do the Food Network’s Guy Fieri, Pulitzer Prize-winning violinist Caroline Shaw, and political commentator Alex Wagner have in common? They are among the 8 million or so people who created projects for National History Day (NHD) while they were in middle or high school.

The brainchild of the late David Van Tassel, a Case Western Reserve University history professor, History Day got its start in 1974 in Cleveland with 129 high school students. Recently, nearly 3,000 NHD students descended on the University of Maryland at College Park to present their papers, documentaries, exhibits, performances, and websites over five days devoted to celebrating history. Their projects are the result of a yearlong effort to better understand history by studying primary and secondary source materials. Hailing from across the United States, American Samoa, Guam, and Puerto Rico, and international schools in Central America, China, Korea, and South Asia, the students are the finalists among an estimated 600,000 students who competed on the theme “Leadership & Legacy in History.”

NHD has changed the way students learn history, says Cathy Gorn, NHD’s executive director. Their teachers “teach by asking questions and getting away from textbook learning.”

Gorn has looked at thousands of History Day efforts since joining the staff in 1982. Which ones stick out? For a great title, she says, “I Looked Down Into My Open Grave,” a project about Andrew Johnson’s impeachment. There was a great performance about Eleanor of Aquitaine acted on a sheet serving as a chessboard, and one on five presidents debating rights and responsibilities. “They pretended to be in Heaven and put dry ice around for the cloud effect,” says Gorn.

What has been a constant is that “students have always been very interested in topics regarding injustices,” says Gorn. For instance, when a team of Illinois students made a documentary about the 1964 murders of three civil rights workers, the research they did for the film helped reopen the investigation of the killings. And a World War II captain, blamed for the loss of his ship and many men in the Pacific, was exonerated in part because of a sixth grader—Hunter Scott interviewed survivors of the U.S.S.  Indianapolis  for his project and later testified to Congress on Captain Charles Butler McVay III’s behalf.

Doing History Day has been transformative, says Gorn, who notes that a special education student moved to honors classes after doing a History Day project. One of the more poignant moments for Gorn involved a student being treated for bone cancer, who used her NHD project to “keep her focus and her spirits up.”

Since 1979, NEH has awarded  $1,926,563  to NHD. Cited for instilling “a passion for history,” National History Day was awarded a National Humanities Medal by President Obama in February 2012.

(By the way, if you wonder what topic inspired Fieri, it was the history of pretzels.)

Written by Anna Maria Gillis, managing editor of Humanities.

Explore More Essential Projects

Buddhist Caves of Xiangtangshan

Created Equal

Underwater Archaeology

Educator Resources

National History Day Online Research Tools

Learn about National History Day resources from the National Archives! Explore DocsTeach in support of your NHD project for this year's theme- Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.

Search these Resources for History Topics Across Historical Eras

• Primary Sources for this Year's Theme on the DocsTeach National History Day Page
• The Presidential Timeline
• The National Archives Online Catalog of Primary Sources
• Historic Video Footage for this Year's Theme

Check these Resources for Topics and Time Periods

American revolution.

• Founders Online , Searchable Archive of the Correspondence and Writings of Six of the Founding Fathers
• The American Revolution on DocsTeach
• Primary Sources Related to the Louisiana Purchase on DocsTeach
• Primary Sources Related to the Abolition of Slavery on DocsTeach

Civil War & Reconstruction

• The Civil War on DocsTeach

Industrialization and Immigration

• Primary Sources Related to Immigration on DocsTeach
• Primary Sources Related to the Progressive Era on DocsTeach
• Primary Sources Related to Women's Rights  on DocsTeach

The Spanish-American War and World War I

• Primary Sources Related to the Spanish-American War on DocsTeach
• Primary Sources Related to World War I on DocsTeach
• Commission for the Relief of Belguim (CRB) and the Bonus March from the Hoover Library
• Harry Truman's World War I from the Truman Library
• From Soldier to Senator: Harry S. Truman, 1918-1941 from the Truman Library

The Great Depression

• Hoover and the Supreme Court on the Presidential Timeline
• Stock Market Crash on the Presidential Timeline
• First 100 Days (PDF) from the Roosevelt Library
• Primary Sources Related to the New Deal on DocsTeach
• Primary Sources Related to Fireside Chats on DocsTeach
• Roosevelt and the Supreme Court on the Presidential Timeline
• Tuskegee Airmen (PDF) from the Roosevelt Library
• Search the Roosevelt Library's Online Historical Documents Page

World War II

• World War II Documents (PDF) from the Roosevelt Library
• Primary Sources Related to World War II on DocsTeach
• Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on the Presidential Timeline
• Primary Sources Related to Pearl Harbor on DocsTeach
• Japanese-American Internment (PDF) from the Roosevelt Library
• Japanese-Americans During World War II from the Truman Library
• Primary Sources Related to Japanese-American Internment on DocsTeach
• The Holocaust (PDF) from the FDR Library
• Primary Sources Related to the Holocaust on DocsTeach
• Search Online Documents from the Truman Library
• Search Online Photographs from the Truman Library
• Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb from the Truman Library
• Primary Sources Related to the Atomic Bomb on DocsTeach
• War Crimes Trials at Nuremberg  from the Truman Library
• Marshall Plan from the Truman Library
• Primary Sources Related to the Marshall Plan on DocsTeach
• The Point Four Program  from the Truman Library
• The United Nations, 1945-53: The Development of a World Organization  from the Truman Library
• Migratory Farm Labor from the Truman Library
• The Truman Administration's Policy Toward Native Americans from the Truman Library
• President Truman's Fight for National Health Insurance from the Truman Library
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization from the Truman Library
• Truman's 1948 Presidential Campaign from the Truman Library
• Truman and the Supreme Court on the Presidential Timeline
• U.S. Recognition of Israel from the Truman Library
• Oil Crisis in Iran, 1950-52 from the Truman Library
• Alaska Statehood from the Eisenhower Library
• Eisenhower and the Supreme Court on the Presidential Timeline
• Eisenhower's Farewell Address from the Eisenhower Library
• Hawaii Statehood from the Eisenhower Library
• International Geophysical Year from the Eisenhower Library
• Interstate Highway System from the Eisenhower Library
• People To People from the Eisenhower Library
• Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine from the Eisenhower Library
• Women in the 1950s from the Eisenhower Library

Civil Rights

• Rights in America  on DocsTeach
• Truman and Civil Rights  from the Truman Library
• The President’s Committee on Civil Rights from the Truman Library
• Desegregation of the Armed Forces from the Truman Library
• Civil Rights Act of 1957 from the Eisenhower Library
• Brown vs. Board of Education from the Eisenhower Library
• Citizens' Letters on the Little Rock Crisis from the Eisenhower Library
• Government Reports and President Eisenhower's Personal Views from the Eisenhower Library
• The Emmett Till Case from the Eisenhower Library
• Little Rock School Integration from the Eisenhower Library
• Little Rock School Integration on the Presidential Timeline
• Primary Sources Related to Martin Luther King, Jr. on DocsTeach
• Integrating Ole Miss from the Kennedy Library
• Leaders in the Struggle for Civil Rights from the Kennedy Library
• President Clinton, Civil Rights and the Little Rock Nine on the Presidential Timeline

The 1960s–1970s

• The Peace Corps on the Presidential Timeline
• Search the Kennedy Library's Digital Collections
• Johnson and the Supreme Court on the Presidential Timeline
• The Vietnam Conflict Online Exhibit from the Johnson Library
• Search the Johnson Library’s Online Photo Archive
• The Johnson Library’s Telephone Conversations from the Miller Center
• A Record of President Johnson’s Appointments, Phone Calls, and Activitiesin the Daily Diary from the Johnson Library
• The Johnson Library’s Oral History Collection
• The Johnson Library’s Video Collections on YouTube
• The 1970s , including environmentalism, on DocsTeach
• The Nixon and Ford Years on DocsTeach
• Explore the Nixon Library Virtual Library
• Memoirs v. Tapes: Nixon & the December Bombings from the Nixon Library
• Richard Nixon and the Supreme Court on the Presidential Timeline
• The Twenty-Sixth Amendment on the Presidential Timeline
• Watergate Trial Conversations from the Nixon Library
• Primary Sources Related to Watergate on DocsTeach
• Ford and the Supreme Court on the Presidential Timeline
• Intelligence Community Investigations and Reforms, 1975-1976 from the Ford Library
• The Swine Flu Immunization Program of 1976 from the Ford Library
• Jimmy Carter and the Supreme Court on the Presidential Timeline
• Partner of the President (Rosalynn Carter) on the Presidential Timeline
• The Camp David Accords After Twenty-Five Years from the Carter Library
• U.S. Embassy in Tehran is Seized by Iranian Terrorists on the Presidential Timeline
• Panama Canal Treaties on the Presidential Timeline
• Primary Sources Related to the Middle East on DocsTeach
• 444 Days: Understanding the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis on the Presidential Timeline

The Cold War

• The Cold War, 1945-1991 on the Presidential Timeline
• Primary Sources Related to the Cold War on DocsTeach
• Berlin Airlift from the Truman Library
• Ideological Foundations of the Cold War from the Truman Library
• Truman Doctrine and the Beginning of the Cold War from the Truman Library
• Immigration Policy: President Truman's Veto of the McCarran-Walter Act from the Truman Library
• Korean War and Its Origins from the Truman Library
• Primary Sources Related to the Korean War on DocsTeach
• Primary Sources Related to General Douglas MacArthur on DocsTeach
• Aerial Intelligence during the Cold War from the Eisenhower Library
• Atoms For Peace from the Eisenhower Library
• President Truman's Confrontation with McCarthyism from the Truman Library
• McCarthyism from the Eisenhower Library
• The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) from the Eisenhower Library
• Primary Sources Related to NASA on DocsTeach
• Sputnik and the Space Race from the Eisenhower Library
• U-2 Spy Plane Incident from the Eisenhower Library
• Americans in Space from the Kennedy Library
• The World on the Brink: John F. Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis from the Kennedy Library
• Preparing for Press Conferences from the Kennedy Library
• Primary Sources Related to the Space Race on DocsTeach
• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution on the Presidential Timeline
• LBJ and the Space Age on the Presidential Timeline
• Vietnam, the "Pentagon Papers" Report
• Ping Pong Diplomacy: Nixon's Trip to China on the Presidential Timeline
• Nixon in China on the Presidential Timeline
• End of the Vietnam War on the Presidential Timeline
• Vietnam War Final Months and Aftermath from the Ford Library
• Helsinki Accords on the Presidential Timeline
• The Vladivostok Summit Meeting on Arms Control, November 23-24, 1974 from the Ford Library
• Confronting the Nuclear Threat on the Presidential Timeline
• The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall on the Presidential Timeline
• The Fall of the Berlin Wall on the Presidential Timeline
• A Europe Whole and Free: The Fall of the Berlin Wall November 9, 1989 on the Presidential Timeline
• Primary Sources Related to the Berlin Wall on DocsTeach
• The Dissolution of the Soviet Union on the Presidential Timeline

The 1980s–Present

• Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger on the Presidential Timeline
• Reagan and the Supreme Court on the Presidential Timeline
• George H. W. Bush and the Supreme Court on the Presidential Timeline
• The Persian Gulf Crisis and War on the Presidential Timeline
• The Persian Gulf War: In-Depth International Perspectives on the Presidential Timeline
• William J. Clinton and the Supreme Court on the Presidential Timeline
• Search the Clinton Library's Digital Library Page
• 9/11 Resource Guide from the George W. Bush Library
• Primary Sources Related to 9/11 on DocsTeach
• Primary Sources Related to Hurricane Katrina  on DocsTeach

Example Websites

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

National History Day California

History Day California

It's What You Make It!

National History Day in California is a co-curricular program for students in grades 4 - 12 in all educational settings. Students engage in historical inquiry and analysis on a topic of their choice. Explore our website to learn more about the program, find resources for research and project development, or to connect with your local program.

Make It Happen

Incorporate NHD Inquiry-based learning into your teaching.

Make It Yours

Start your History Day project.

NHD-CA News & Updates

Historical Paper Contest

CHANGES TO HISTORICAL PAPER CATEGORY Beginning with contests in 2024, registration and submission of all historical papers will follow a different format from all other categories. Historical papers will not compete at county contests. Instead, […]

2024 California National Contest Champions Announced

MARYLAND – June 13, 2024 — Eight California entries were named national champions at the 50th Annual National History Day Contest held at the University of Maryland College Park Campus in the Washington, D.C. area […]

2024 NHD-CA Champions Announced

After months of intensive research and success at district and county-level competitions, champions were recognized in Sacramento on Sunday, April 21st at California State University Sacramento, concluding the 2024 National History Day-California state competition. More […]

Make It! Webinar Series

Register to Participate in Live Webinars or to Watch the Recordings History Day projects require students to use research, analysis, and historical thinking skills. Join us for this free, multi-part webinar series to introduce these […]

Make it Civics

Use your National History Day research to help meet some of the requirements for the California State Seal of Civic Engagement. The Civic Summit at History Day California provides students, grades 9–12, an opportunity to engage in civil discourse with other students on their topic.

Our Sponsors

Sacramento County Office of Education

NHD-CA P.O. Box 269003 Sacramento, CA 95826

[email protected]

• Biographies and Features
• Morgenthau Holocaust Project
• Timeline: FDR Day by Day
• Research the Archives
• The Pare Lorentz Center
• Student Resources
• Summer Activities
• Social Media
• Museum Visit
• Research Visit
• Field Trips & Group Visits
• Museum Store
• What is a Presidential Library
• Events & Registration
• Press and Media
• Program Archives
• Newsletter Archives
• Search FRANKLIN
• Plan a Research Visit
• Digital Collections
• Featured Topics
• Morgenthau Project
• Teaching Tools
• Civics for All of US
• Resources for Students
• Distance Learning
• Teacher Workshops
• Field Trips
• NAIN Teachers Conference
• Activities at Home
• 75th Anniversary
• History of the FDR Library
• Library Trustees
• Intern and Volunteer
• Donate TODAY!
• Ways To Give
• Get Involved
• Roosevelt Institute
• RI Annual Reports for Roosevelt Library
• National History Day

Navigation Navigation

• Roosevelt Fun and Facts
• Ideas for Research
• Periodic Table
• Document of the Month
• Roosevelt Pictures
• Information on Projects and Reports
• Roosevelt Rap
• Essay Contest

Web Content Display Web Content Display

Because National History Day focuses on a specific theme each year and is an evolving program, it is important that the competition information you receive is accurate and up to date. Themes, competition categories, rules and deadlines can be found on the  State History Day  and  National History Day  websites.

What is History Day?

In addition to making history fun to learn and teach, National History Day requires students to support their projects with multiple primary sources and is designed to help students acquire important research and critical thinking skills.

When is National History Day?

National History Day culminates in a national contest each June after a series of competitions held first at the school, regional, and then state levels. Each region and state sets its own registration and competition deadlines each year. Most students start research by late October or early November. Projects planning to enter the contest must be finished in time for the district contests (usually in February or March). The state contest (usually held in April-May), and the national contest (held at the beginning of June at the University of Maryland). Because papers are due several weeks before each contest, students writing papers and websites should plan ahead carefully.

How Can the FDR Library Help with History Day Projects?

The Archives of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum houses more than 17 million pages of documents, making it the world's premier research center for the study of the Roosevelt era. Because Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were such important figures in American and world history, elements of their work are often selected as History Day projects.

Each year dozens of students from across the country  Contact the Library's Education Specialist  to receive copies of primary source documents from our archival collection. Participants have used photographs, documents, speeches, and sound recordings from the Library's holdings. There are also many online resources for studying Roosevelt history available on this website. Start by visiting  Featured Resources  and  Ideas for Research and Project Topics .   

Mission Statement

The Library's mission is to foster research and education on the life and times of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, and their continuing impact on contemporary life. Our work is carried out by four major areas: Archives, Museum, Education and Public Programs.

• Research the Roosevelts
• News & Events
• Historic Collections
• Accessibility
• Terms & Conditions

Ask the publishers to restore access to 500,000+ books.

Internet Archive Audio

• This Just In
• Grateful Dead
• Old Time Radio
• 78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings
• Audio Books & Poetry
• Computers, Technology and Science
• Music, Arts & Culture
• News & Public Affairs
• Spirituality & Religion
• Radio News Archive

• Flickr Commons
• Occupy Wall Street Flickr
• NASA Images
• Solar System Collection
• Ames Research Center

• All Software
• Old School Emulation
• MS-DOS Games
• Historical Software
• Classic PC Games
• Software Library
• Kodi Archive and Support File
• Vintage Software
• CD-ROM Software
• CD-ROM Software Library
• Software Sites
• Tucows Software Library
• Shareware CD-ROMs
• Software Capsules Compilation
• CD-ROM Images
• ZX Spectrum
• DOOM Level CD

• Smithsonian Libraries
• FEDLINK (US)
• Lincoln Collection
• American Libraries
• Canadian Libraries
• Universal Library
• Project Gutenberg
• Children's Library
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Books by Language
• Additional Collections

• Prelinger Archives
• Democracy Now!
• Occupy Wall Street
• TV NSA Clip Library
• Animation & Cartoons
• Arts & Music
• Computers & Technology
• Cultural & Academic Films
• Ephemeral Films
• Sports Videos
• Videogame Videos
• Youth Media

Search the history of over 866 billion web pages on the Internet.

Mobile Apps

• Wayback Machine (iOS)
• Wayback Machine (Android)

Browser Extensions

Archive-it subscription.

• Explore the Collections
• Build Collections

Save Page Now

Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future.

Please enter a valid web address

• Donate Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape

Center for the Teaching of History

National history day.

The Massachusetts Historical Society is the sponsor of  Massachusetts History Day , an affiliate of  National History Day . More than 6,000 students in grades 6-12 participate in contests across the Commonwealth each year. Eighteen extraordinary projects are then selected to represent Massachusetts at the National Contest held at the University of Maryland.

Ready to begin? Follow these links to learn more about valuable MHS resources, this year's National History Day theme, or the competition process in Massachusetts.

Getting Started

Visit the National History Day website to learn more about this year’s theme and the different types of projects you can create!

Participate in Massachusetts History Day

Immerse yourself in this year's theme and discover resources that will help you research and create an amazing History Day project.

National History Day at MHS

Learn about National History Day student workshops, research tools, and collections at MHS.  Or go straight to our NHD 2021 theme page to get started!

Visit Our Library

The Society's library is free and open to researchers of all ages. Any person interested in using the collections can register as a researcher and use materials in the library.

Meet interesting people, learn how to conduct college-level research, and prepare yourself for a bright future.

Connecticut History Day is an academic program for students in grades 6-12, that can be offered in a variety of settings. 

As the parent of a CHD student, you will be able to watch your child develop their project and become a historian.

Start here to find information on judges sign-up, judging instructions, and frequently asked questions.

Welcome to Connecticut History Day

THIS YEAR'S THEME

Rights & responsibilities in history.

Every year National History Day ®  frames students’ research within a historical theme. The theme is chosen for the broad application to world, national, or state history and its relevance to ancient history or to the more recent past.

View Gallery

Our Testimonials

What people are saying, katherine h., news & happenings.

• By Barbara Dell
• Comments are off for this post.

Connecticut Students Receive Prestigious Awards at National History Day® Competition

Middle and high school students earning top prize at CT History Day competition now headed to Nationals

Recent articles, ct democracy center announces winners of statewide “we the people” civics competition.

• February 22, 2024

Woodbury Public Library Hosts Info Session About CT History Day Program

• December 14, 2023

Local students head to National History Day competition

• May 30, 2023

Join the Connecticut History Day Email List:

Teachers, join the chd teacher-specific email list:.

Texas History Day State Contest*

Saturday, april 5, 2025, in austin, tx, the 2025 theme is “ rights and responsibilites in history “.

*make sure to register at the closest regional contest to you, that is the first step in competition for Texas History Day

Why Texas Students Love History Day

Discover why Texas students love to participate in Texas History Day and National History Day. In this video, you will hear testimonials from students, teachers, and parents who have participated in the past.

Texas History Day Students Win Awards at 2024 National History Day Contest

The Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) proudly commends the exceptional achievements of Texas students who participated in the National History Day (NHD) contest held at the University of Maryland from June 9-13, 2024. These remarkable young historians showcased their passion for history, demonstrated exceptional research and presentation skills, and represented Texas with distinction.

Texas History Day (THD) students from various cities across Texas, who advanced through school, regional, and state-level contests, earned the opportunity to compete at the national level. Amidst fierce competition with approximately 2,900 students from all 50 states, international schools, and U.S. territories, Texas students shone brightly, impressing judges with their insightful historical analyses and engaging presentations.

Under this year’s NHD theme, “Turning Points in History,” students explored narratives that offered new perspectives, untold stories, and transformative ideas. Their dedication, creativity, and commitment to historical scholarship were evident in their exceptional projects. TSHA congratulates the following Texas students for their remarkable achievements at the NHD contest:

National 2 nd Place:

• Tori White , Nimitz High School (Houston), “ Red Light! Gladys West & the Global Positioning System,” Sr. Individual Performance.

National 4 th Place:

• Aliya Ajani, Ambika Nair, Seleste Banks, and Smrithi Guddeti , The Honor Roll School (Sugar Land), “ Invention of the Smallpox Vaccine: The Birth of Mass Vaccination,” Jr. Group Website.
• Nora Gillum , Dripping Springs Middle School (Dripping Springs), “ Poisoned Pills: How the 1982Tylenol Scare Became a Turning Point in Consumer Safety,” Jr. Individual Website.
• Felicity Fok and Zeviel Pineda , Veteran’s Memorial Early College High School (Brownsville), “ Exposed Wire Leads to Fire: How One Telegram Ignited America’s Rise to Power , ” Sr. Group Exhibit.

National 5 th Place:

• Annali Ramirez, Gabriel Ramirez, Jonathan Lewis, and Yashvir Singh Gill , E.F. Green Middle School (Houston), “ From Sea to Shining Sea: The Transcontinental Railroad Redefines the Face of a Nation , ” Jr. Group Exhibit.
• Grant Gillum , Dripping Springs High School (Dripping Springs), “ Fueling Victory: How the Inch Pipelines Became a Turning Point in World War II,” Sr. Individual Website.

National 7 th Place:

• Dalinda Hernandez , Stillman Middle School (Brownsville), “ The Discovery of the Double Helix: A Turning Point in Understanding the Structure of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA),” Jr. Individual Performance.

National 8 th Place:

• Lilith Shue , Young Women’s Leadership Academy (San Antonio), “ The Digitalization of Filmmaking: A Turning Point in Modern Storytelling,” Jr. Individual Website.

National 9 th Place:

• Austin Thomas and Brycen Gardiner , Baytown Jr. High (Baytown), “ The Box That Changed the World ,” Jr. Group Exhibit.

Irish or Irish-American Special Award:

Junior Outstanding Entry from Texas:

• Mia Espinosa and Theodore Espinosa , Stell Middle School (Brownsville), “The Creation of the Hydrogen Bomb: A Threatening Existence for Humanity,” Jr. Group Website.

Senior Outstanding Entry from Texas:

• Shrivam Tripathi, Swathi Paramehwar, and Siya Tripathi , Plano East Sr. High (Plano), “Operation Mincemeat: Saving Lives from Beyond the Grave,” Sr. Group Documentary.

Showcases selections:

Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History displayed 58 exhibits on Wednesday, June 12, one from each affiliate (state) and Texas was represented by Rece Barlow’s Jr. Individual Exhibit, “ Through the Eyes of Nimitz- The Battle of Midway, A Turning Point in WWII,” from Marathon Junior High (Marathon).

On Wednesday, June 12, Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture featured 16 documentaries including Tisha Sinha’s Jr. Individual Documentary, “ When Words Fail Music Speaks: Nina Simone’s Social Reform for Civil Rights,” from Otto Middle School (Plano) .

These talented individuals exemplified exceptional research skills, creativity, and dedication in their projects, captivating judges and earning well-deserved recognition.

“Participating in the National History Day National Contest in 2024 is a special honor,” said NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn . “As the organization celebrates its 50th anniversary, the students at the National Contest witnessed history. They have shown an incredible level of critical thinking, analysis, and research skills that will benefit them beyond their participation in NHD. I am proud of the students’ achievements this contest year and look forward to how they apply the skills they developed during their research to their future careers and lives.”

These achievements at the NHD contest and participation in prestigious showcases are a testament to the dedication and passion of Texas students, as well as the support provided by educators, parents, and mentors. TSHA expresses its gratitude for their invaluable contributions in nurturing young historians and fostering a deep appreciation for Texas’s rich heritage.

2024 Texas History Day Results–

Category– click here, special awards– click here, texas national history day teachers engage in webinar series using library of congress resources to develop a historical argument.

College Park, Maryland – October 26, 2023 – National History Day ® (NHD) and the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), the organizer of NHD in Texas, are proud to announce the Texas teachers selected to participate in NHD’s fall 2023 professional development program. This course uses online Library of Congress resources to develop and support historical arguments. It is a feature of NHD’s membership in the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Consortium in partnership with the TPS Regional Grant Program.

The teachers chosen for this honor join 48 of NHD’s 58 affiliates across the country and around the world. NHD affiliates include all 50 states and the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and international schools.

“The skills and strategies these educators are developing through this series will benefit their students throughout their academic and professional careers,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “As a Library of Congress TPS Consortium member, NHD is incredibly fortunate to offer this opportunity to engage NHD teachers and coordinators with the vast resources of the Library of Congress using resources developed in partnership with the Library of Congress. ”

Since August, these educators have worked with their peers nationwide and National History Day staff to build knowledge for teaching with online Library of Congress resources. When the series is complete,

these educators will have demonstrated the ability to share key strategies for researching, supporting,

and presenting historical arguments bolstered by primary sources held by the Library of Congress.

The educators from Texas participating in the series include:

• Mrs. Kelly Bellar, Region 10 Education Service Center, Richardson, Texas
• Ms. Meredith Bolen, Energy Institute High School, Houston, Texas
• Mrs. Becky Florsheim, Poetry Community Christian School, Terrell, Texas
• Mrs. Katherine Grider, Ector High School, Ector, Texas
• Mr. Kevin James, Harmony Public Schools, San Antonio, Texas
• Ms. Raquel Longoria, Stovall Middle School, Houston, Texas
• Mrs. Mayra Moreno, Eastlake High School, El Paso, Texas
• Mrs. Kelly Ramirez, Incarnate Word Academy, Corpus Christi, Texas
• Mrs. Katina Robalino, Woodcreek Junior High School, Katy, Texas
• Ms. Stacy Terral, Chaparral High School, Killeen, Texas

Texas Students Earn Top Awards at National History Day Contest

The Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) proudly commends the exceptional achievements of Texas students who participated in the National History Day (NHD) contest held at the University of Maryland from June 10-15, 2023. These remarkable young historians showcased their passion for history, demonstrated exceptional research and presentation skills, and represented Texas with distinction.

Texas History Day (THD) Students from various cities across Texas, who advanced through school, regional, and state-level contests, earned the opportunity to compete at the national level. Amidst fierce competition with approximately 2,800 students from all 50 states, international schools, and U.S. territories, Texas students shone brightly, impressing judges with their insightful historical analyses and engaging presentations.

Under this year’s NHD theme, “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas,” students explored narratives that offered new perspectives, untold stories, and transformative ideas. Their dedication, creativity, and commitment to historical scholarship were evident in their exceptional projects. TSHA congratulates the following Texas students for their remarkable achievements at the NHD contest:

• Henry Jones from Lively Middle School, Austin ( A “Social Frontier”: Boy Scouts, Progressive Education and the Turner Thesis ): 1st Place Jr. Paper

• Carter Holton from New Caney High, New Caney ( Window to the Universe: How the Hubble Space Telescope Revolutionized the Study of Astronomy ): 2nd Place Sr. Individual Exhibit

• Grant Gillum from Dripping Springs High, Dripping Springs ( Power for the People: How LBJ Tamed the Frontiers of Texas Hill Country Electrification ): 2nd Place Sr. Individual Website

• Emma Clark-Martinez, Finley Ritter, and Katarina Telep from Atlas Academy, Waco ( Is There a Doctor in the House: The Tale of Dr. Sara Josephine Baker and Typhoid Mary ): 3rd Place Jr. Group Performance

• Felicity Folk and Zeviel Piñeda from Veterans Memorial Early College High, Brownsville ( The Hidden Bombe of WWII: Outwitting the Enigma Code ): 3rd Place Sr. Group Exhibit

• Kevin Majka from Odyssey Academy, El Lago ( A New Age of Politics: Barbara Jordan’s Influence on the Exposure of African American Female Representation in Government ): Finalist in Sr. Individual Exhibit

• Dhilan Nag, Hardik Singh, Shriya Bhat, and Sukhran Chandrasekar from Plano East High, Plano ( Jack Kilby and the Circuit That Conquered the World ): Finalists in Sr. Group Documentary & Recognized as the Outstanding Senior Entry from Texas

• Eddie Turk, Harper Armstrong, and Luisa Perez-Montes from Livingston Jr. High, Livingston ( The Light in the Darkness: The Frontier of Electrifying Rural America ): Finalists in Jr. Group Website

• Izabella Brionnes and Annaliese West from Marathon Jr. High, Marathon ( Mission Impossible: Cabeza de Vaca y la Nueva Frontera ): Finalists in Jr. Group Performance

• Yashvir Sing Gill, Jonthan Lewis, Annali Ramirez, and Gabriel Ramirez EF Green Junior High, Baytown ( Got Safe Milk? ): Jr. Group Exhibit Finalists and Recognized as the Outstanding Junior Entry from Texas

Furthermore, we are delighted to announce that Maahi Singh , a student at EF Green Junior High in Baytown, was selected to have her paper ( Booker T. Washington V. W.E.B. Du Bois: Frontiers in Black Upward Mobility, Civil Rights, and Economic Stability Challenging Conventional Thinking in America ) featured in an online showcase organized by the White House Historical Association . Singh also was invited to attend a Writer’s Workshop with the esteemed staff of the White House Historical Association on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. The papers, selected by Association staff, can be accessed at  whitehousehistory.org/rubenstein-center/k-12-education-resources-and-programs/educational-partners/nhd-paper-showcase .

Additionally, Kevin Majka , a student at the Odyssey Academy in El Lago, Texas, was among the 48 students chosen to display their exhibits in a live showcase at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History on Flag Day, June 14, 2023. Majka advanced to the National contest by placing in the top two at the THD Senior Individual Exhibit category contest, held at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin in April, with his exhibit, A New Age of Politics: Barbara Jordan’s Influence on the Exposure of African American Female Representation in Government .

Texas History Day 2023 Results

Category results, special award results, junior division finals rounds, senior division finals rounds, fort bend isd student wins texas history day t-shirt design contest.

Texas State Historical Association announced the winner of the Texas History Day (THD) T-Shirt Design Contest,  Sophi Li, 8th Grader from Fort Settlement Middle School , created the winning design!

Students from across the state submitted their own designs for the National History Day theme for 2023, “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.”  The student design also needed to have a connection to Texas. The winning student receives $250 and a free THD t-shirt.

“I’m impressed by the talent that the student submissions showcased.  We are proud to make Sophi’s design a reality,” said Andy Osborne, owner of AJL Advertising Specialties.  AJL sponsors the THD Design contest and also prints the t-shirts that are made available for purchase during the THD state contest on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Austin.  

For the full press release, click here .

TWO TEXAS STUDENT-TEACHER TEAMS ATTEND ELITE SUMMER INSTITUTE IN HAWAI ʻ I

National History Day and Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Provided Learning, Research, and All Expenses Paid Trips to Hawaiʻi for Select Students

[added September 7, 2022]

This summer two Texas students and their teachers took part in an elite cooperative learning program this summer in Hawaiʻi,  Sacrifice for Freedom®: World War II in the Pacific Student & Teacher Institute :

Mr. Rhett Carter  (teacher); Dhilan Nag,  Senior (student); Plano East Senior High School; Plano, Texas

Mrs. Megan Souchek  (teacher); Carter Holton,  Senior (student); New Caney High School; New Caney, Texas The program, coordinated through National History Day®, was sponsored by the Pearl Harbor Historic Site Partners, including Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Pacific Historic Parks, USS Missouri Memorial Association, and Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor. The students–Dhilan Nag (Senior) of Plano East Senior High School and Carter Holton (Senior) at New Caney High School–were selected from 54 teams who applied for the competitive summer institute. Each student traveled to participate in the institute with their sponsoring teacher.

Dhilan, Carter, and their teacher-sponsors are longtime participants in the Texas History Day program, the state affiliate of the National History Day program. Dhilan has competed in Texas History Day the last three years, receiving first place his freshman year and his sophomore year, and then second his junior year in the Senior Group Website category. Teacher Rhett Carter has sponsored numerous Plano East students to compete in the Dallas Area Regional contest and has had several students advance to the state competition.Carter Holton has competed in Texas History Day for two years in Senior Individual Exhibit, placing second in the state in 2020 and first in 2021; each time he advanced to the National History Day competition. In 2021, Carter won first place at Nationals with his exhibit on the 1900 Galveston hurricane,  “The 1900 Storm.”  Megan Souchek, a teacher at New Caney High School, consistently has students advance to state each year; the last two years, she has consistently had students advance to Nationals.

During spring 2022, students and teachers read historical texts and primary documents, participated in online discussions, and researched the life of a fallen military member from the student’s region who is buried or memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Over the summer, the teams then headed to Hawaiʻi to engage in on-site learning opportunities, such as spending a night aboard The USS Missouri and visiting with military and local historians at the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites and across the island of Oahu.

“Spending a night aboard the USS Missouri was an absolutely remarkable experience. As an Eagle Scout, it was an honor to participate in a color guard on the ship the evening we arrived,” reflected Dhilan Nag. “The staff gave us a breathtaking tour of the ship, and I especially remember the starboard side where I witnessed the sites of both a tragic kamikaze strike and the 1945 surrender of the Japanese Empire. I would relive this program 100 times more if I could.”

For the full press release click here .

Texas History Day Teacher Selected for Revolutionary Ideals, Summer Institute in Rhode Island

[added February 22, 2022]

Dr. Joseph Russell , American Studies teacher at Plano East High School , has been selected to represent Texas History Day (THD), an affiliate of National History Day (NHD), at a unique summer institute called Revolutionary Ideals, where 30 teachers from across the country will study the American Revolution and Founding Era in Providence, Rhode Island, during summer 2022. NHD is working with the Rhode Island Historical Society, which will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2022, on programming, events, and site visits.

Dr. Russell has sponsored numerous Plano East students in Texas History Day and guided them through the Dallas Area Regional contest where several students have advanced to the state competition and then the national contest. He also was named an NHD Master Teacher in February 2022 where he helped to develop a set of student guides that will connect NHD categories with resources in the Library of Congress. 

Over the course of six months, the selected teachers will learn about and research the context of the ideals behind the American Revolution and Early Republic. After the institute, teachers will work in pairs to create lesson plans relating to the founding ideals of the revolutionary era.

Teachers will travel to Rhode Island and engage in site-specific learning coordinated by the Rhode Island Historical Society from July 10 to July 17, 2022. The program culminates with teachers submitting lesson plans for an upcoming NHD publication.

Revolutionary Ideals is one aspect of National History Day’s programming under the larger initiative A More Perfect Union. To that end, NHD is partnering with various partners to commemorate the semiquincentennial of the United States.

Revolutionary Ideals is generously funded by Tom Lauer.

For full press release, click here .

Two Texas History Day Student-Teacher Teams Chosen for Elite NHD Summer Institute in Hawai’i

[added January 20, 2022]

Dhilan Nag of Plano East High School and Carter Holton of New Caney High School , along with their sponsoring teachers (Rhett Carter–Plano East High School and Megan Souchek–New Caney High School) are going to Hawai’i! They were selected from 54 applicants to be part of the 16 team group to participate in the Sacrifice for Freedom ®: World War II in the Pacific Student and Teacher Institute through National History Day . The program is sponsored by the Pearl Harbor Historic Site Partners, including Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Pacific Historic Parks, USS Missouri Memorial Association, and the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor.

Each student/teacher team will travel to Hawai’i–all expenses paid–to participate in the institute.  Over the spring, they will participate in a research project concerning World War II in the Pacific and concentrate on an individual from that time period from Texas. They will travel to Hawaiʻi in July to engage in on-site learning opportunities, including spending a night aboard The USS Missouri and visiting with military and local historians at the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites and across the island of Oahu.

The Texas State Historical Association is so proud of these students and their teachers, who are longtime participants in the Texas History Day program. 

For the full press release click here.

Texas’s Own, Max Grinstein, Talks About His National First Place Jr. Historical Paper

[added August 19, 2020]

Max Grinstein won the top prize at National History Day in June with his Junior Historical Paper on the Fifth Circuit Four and their instrumental role in desegregating the Deep South. Grinstein spoke to “Our American Stories,” a nationally syndicated radio program, about his interesting topic! Have a listen: “Our American Stories”-Max Grinstein .

What is Texas History Day?

Each year thousands of students, encouraged by teachers and parents statewide, participate in the National History Day program in Texas. Texas History Day, an affiliate of NHD and is a highly regarded academic program for 6th through 12th grade students. Each year more than 65,000 Texas students join more than 500,000 students across the country for National History Day!

Texas History Day provides a framework for successful student projects. Each student bases their project on the same annual theme and rule book. Students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research at libraries, archives, museums, historic sites, and more. Projects are not limited to any particular time period or geographic area. After analyzing and interpreting their source material, create a plan to present their findings to the peers and teachers before moving on to regional, state, and possibly national contests. Students can create and present original research papers, exhibits, performances, websites, and documentaries.

The student projects may be entered into competitions in the spring at one of our regional contests across Texas. Winners from each regional competition will advance to the state contest in Austin. Students who place first or second at our state contest advance to the National Contest held each June held at the University of Maryland at College Park.

In addition to discovering the exciting world of the past, Texas History Day also helps students develop the following attributes that are critical for future success:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills   
• Project management skills
• Research and reading skills
• Oral and written communication and presentation skills
• Self-esteem and confidence

The Texas National History Day Program not only teaches students about history, it encourages them to participate in history!

Contest Information

NHD provides a framework for student project development. Students must research and build their project using the annual theme and NHD rules to participate in the contest. NHD is open to all students from 6th – 12th grades. Students may qualify for a number of special awards at the contest. In addition, the best entries from the paper category may be eligible for publication in the  Texas Historian , the official journal of the Junior Historians of Texas.

Once you have chosen a historical topic related to the annual theme you will conduct primary and secondary research to prepare you to create your project. After you have analyzed and interpreted your sources and have drawn a conclusion about the significance of your topic, you will then be able to present your work in one of five ways: as a research paper, an exhibit, a performance, a documentary, or a website. Each of the categories except papers can be created by a group of two to five students.

In the spring, you may enter your work into the regional contest where it will be judged by educators, professors, museum staff, and historians. If your work is chosen as one of the best, you will move on to the state’s NHD contest. As a winner at your state NHD contest, you will be eligible to attend the National History Day Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park in June. This is where the best National History Day projects from across the United States, American Samoa, Guam, International Schools of Asia, and Department of Defense Schools in Europe all meet and compete.

NHD provides a framework for success. It teaches essential skills, boosts performance, prepares students for college, and inspires participants to do more than they ever imagined they could. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out the National History Day Works program evaluation and see for yourself what NHD does for our Texas students.

2020 THD Sponsors

• All Days 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
• All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December
• All Types Events Birthdays Deaths Weddings

Today in History

• Film & TV

Historical Events

• 1758 French astronomer Charles Messier mistakenly identifies the Crab Nebula, and begins his Messier Catalogue
• 1909 World's first patent for synthetic rubber granted to German chemist Fritz Hofmann
• 1933 Leó Szilárd , waiting for a red light on Southampton Row in Bloomsbury, conceives idea of a nuclear chain reaction

• 1959 Luna 2 launched by USSR; 1st spacecraft to impact on the Moon
• Historical Events Today Events in 2024

Today in Film & TV

Today in Music

• 1910 Gustav Mahler 's 8th Symphony ("Symphony of A Thousand") premieres in Munich with 1028 musicians

Today in Sport

• 1992 Stefan Edberg beats Michael Chang 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 in the longest match in US Open history (5 hours, 26 minutes), at the time (eclipsed in 2024)

Did You Know?

1st submarine publicly tested in London on the Thames for King James I

September 12, 1624

Famous Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays

Fun Fact About Today

United States' 1st known female cop appointed, Alice Stebbins Wells by LAPD

September 12, 1910

Famous Weddings

• 1812 Revolutionary leader Jose de San Martin (33) weds María de los Remedios de Escalada at Buenos Aires Cathedral in Argentina
• 1840 German pianist and composer Robert Schumann (30) marries German pianist and composer Clara Wieck (20), until his death in 1856
• 1846 Poet and playwright Robert Browning (34) weds fellow poet Elizabeth Barrett (40) at Marylebone Church in London

Famous Divorces

• 1967 American actress and singer Rosemary Clooney (39) divorces Puerto Rican actor José Ferrer (54) for the second time, after she found out his affair with Stella Magee
• 2017 Actress Scarlett Johansson divorces advertising agency owner Romain Dauriac

Famous Deaths in History

Dog Unearths Cave of Antiquity (Featured Article)

A cave complex that contained wall paintings later described by experts as 'the cradle of art' was unearthed on this day by a curious dog, named Robot. September 12, 1940

Founding Fathers

Search the largest and most accurate independent site for today in history.

Official websites use .gov

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Meaning

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier serves as a symbolic grave for all war dead whose remains have not been found or identified.

The Tomb began with one unknown service member from World War I, and today is the grave of three unidentified service members. Its meaning has evolved to represent the memory of all military members throughout American history.

The idea for the Tomb was inspired by ceremonies held in London and Paris in 1920, where the British and French interred Unknown Soldiers at the end of World War I. One of four exhumed American unknowns was selected in 1921 to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

The idea for the Tomb grew out of ceremonies in London and Paris in 1920, when the British and French interred their Unknown Soldiers from World War I. One of four exhumed American unknowns was selected in 1921 to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

I think that’s a responsibility that I have, to push possibilities, to show people, this is the level that things could be at. So when you get something that has the name Kanye West on it, it’s supposed to be pushing the furthest possibilities. I will be the leader of a company that ends up being worth billions of dollars, because I got the answers. I understand culture. I am the nucleus.

"I will be the leader of a company that ends up being worth billions of dollars, because I got the answers. I understand culture. I am the nucleus. I think that’s a responsibility that I have, to push possibilities, to show people, this is the level that things could be at."

Ten Facts You May Not Know About the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Is there really a body in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

Yes. Unidentified remains of our fallen from each war are interred on the Memorial Plaza. The first, located in the largest of the three are from WWI. WWII, Korea and empty crypt between from Vietnam are located behind the WWI in their own separate crypts. In total, three sets of remains who are Medal of Honor recipients are located on the Memorial Amphitheater plaza.

Can women guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

Yes. The regiment integrated (1994?) the tomb of the unknown soldier platoon, is an integrated platoon. There have been five women who have earned the Tomb Guard Identification Badge ( www.tombguard.org )

How do soldiers get picked to guard the tomb?

Each soldier who serves the Tomb are three time volunteers. First, volunteer to serve the United States Army, second, volunteer to serve the 3d United States Infantry Regiment “The Old Guard”, third, volunteer to serve and start training as a Tomb Guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Can Tomb Guards drink alcohol?

Yes. Tomb Guards are at the heart of what they do, human. You can’t drink on duty. But normal life’s liberties are something anyone has the freedom to enjoy.

The story of the Unknown?

“Sacrifice, suffering, and grief are synonymous with war. A nation of families, friends and citizens, mourning the loss of their loved ones, need closure in order to start their grieving process. They need a place that represents this loss and celebrates the service and sacrifice that protect the liberties of free nations. Special days were dedicated for paying tribute to those who served since the earliest days of U.S. history. Yet, at the beginning of the 20th century, there remained no singular place for Americans to visit in order to pay tribute to those who gave all. Considering the amount of sacrifices made throughout U.S. history, it seemed natural when the U.S. Congress enacted legislation following World War I to dedicate such a place. “We have had no national expression of any sort since the war ended that would give the people an opportunity to show their appreciation of the services over there of the young manhood of the nation and it seems to me it would be a very fine thing for Congress to make some provision for a ceremony that would give the people of the country an opportunity to do that.”

General of the Armies John Pershing (Reference- tombguard.org )

Who lays a wreath every year at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

Typically, The President of the United States or his representative.

How was the Unknown chosen?

“On the morning of October 24, 1921, the French people began to gather near the town square in front of the Hôtel de Ville. Although the ceremony would not take place until 11:00AM, many were present to pay their respects. The original plan provided for an American officer to make the selection, much like the British, but at the last minute a non-commissioned officer was chosen by Major General Harry Rogers: he wanted someone that possibly served beside the Unknown Soldier in the trenches. Sergeant Edward F. Younger, of the Army of Occupation on the Rhine (assigned to the 50th Infantry), was designated to make the final selection: He was the recipient of two wound chevrons (precursor to the Purple Heart) and had fought on many of the same battlefields that the unknown candidates possibly fell. This ceremony, though simple was most impressive. While a French military band played, Sergeant Younger slowly entered the room where the four caskets were placed. Passing between two lines formed by the officials he silently advanced to the caskets, circled them three times and placed a spray of white roses on the third casket from the left. He then faced the body, stood at attention, and saluted. He was immediately followed by officers of the French Army who saluted in the name of the French people.”

Does the Old Guard deploy?

Yes, the Regiment has participated in all recent conflicts.

Is the Tomb of the Unknowns Soldier open to the public?

Yes. Visitors can view the Memorial Amphitheater plaza during cemetery hours and if so choose to watch the changing of the guard every hour during the winter months, or every half hour during the summer months.

What branch guards are at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

The United States Army was given the mission in 1926, starting with the 3d Cav Regt, the Old Guard took over the right in 1948.

Tour the Tomb

Tour the tomb layout etc etc.

Guarding the Tomb

Soldiers were first assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1926, to discourage visitors from climbing or stepping on it. In 1937, the guards became a 24/7 presence, standing watch over the Unknown Soldier at all times.

Snow, sleet, heat, wind and rain, they never give up the guard.

Every Minute of Every Day

The changing of the guard takes months to perfect but only minutes to perform. The routine is characterized by practiced precision performed by sentinels who are members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard.” There has been a sentinel on duty in front of the Tomb every minute of every day since 1937.

Soldiers who volunteer to become Tomb Guards undergo a strict selection process and intensive training. Each element of the routine has meaning, with the number 21 repeated to represent the highest symbolic military honor that can be bestowed: the 21-gun salute.

Centenarian Sentinel

At age 100, World War II veteran Jack Eaton returned to Arlington to visit the Tomb he guarded from 1938-1940.

One of Army’s Few Female Tomb Guards

Walters is one of just four women to serve as a tomb guard with the prestigious 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard."

A Century of Honor

Since 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has functioned as a people’s memorial that inspires reflection on service, valor, sacrifice, and mourning.

The Sentinel's Creed

“My dedication to this sacred duty is total and whole-hearted. In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter. And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection. Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements, I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability. It is he who commands the respect I protect, his bravery that made us so proud. Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day, alone in the thoughtful peace of night, this soldier will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.”

Click below to learn more about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Why was the tomb of the unknown soldier created, why is the tomb of the unknown soldier so important, are there remains in the tomb, how do soldiers get picked to guard the tomb, does anc have another tomb for unknowns from other conflicts, how many other unknowns are buried at anc, how many other unknown soldiers are buried at anc, has anyone ever tried to get past the tomb guards, or attempted to deface the tomb, do you have to pay to be buried at arlington national cemetery.

These Heroes Are Not Forgotten

Due to advances in recovery methods, science and technology, it is unlikely that additional unidentified service members will be added to the Tomb. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency works to locate and identify all unaccounted for U.S. military personnel.

Related Links

Commemorating a century of honor, learn more about the centennial celebrations.

A CENTURY OF HONOR

Commemorative guide to the tomb of the unknown soldier.

TAKE A TOUR

Visiting hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Defense.gov

Helpful links.

• Live Events
• Today in DOD
• For the Media
• DOD Resources
• DOD Careers
• Help Center
• DOD / Military Websites
• Agency Financial Report
• Value of Service
• Taking Care of Our People
• FY 2025 Defense Budget
• National Defense Strategy

The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security.

City of Alexandria, VA

• Most Relevant
• Oldest First
• Newest First
• Last 2 Weeks
• Last 6 Months

Search results cleared

• Projects & Plans

This Day in History

What happened on this day in Alexandria's History?

What happened in Alexandria on today's date, or tomorrow, or on your birthday? Search below to find out. 

Note: If an event has not been posted for the selected day, you will see historical events for the next calendar day with an entry.

As we honor Alexandria's 275th Anniversary, take a journey with us to the past as we revisit pivotal moments in our city's history through a series of short videos

Videos: This Week in Alexandria's History

• Historic Alexandria