Studying the past to inform the present and shape the future

Celebrating 50 Years of NHD

2025 Contest Theme

Rights & Responsibilities in History

This year’s theme invites you to consider questions of time and place, cause and effect, change over time, and impact and significance. 

Students making history

“The non-profit organization National History Day offers students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to explore significant topics of history. Correspondent Faith Salie talks with some of the young people using writing, performance art and documentary filmmaking to tell stories of the past that resonate today, proving that history never gets old.”

Competition inspires students to explore history through art

“Every year for 50 years, some 500,000 students from across the country have competed in National History Day, using arts to portray their researched stories. Correspondent Jeffrey Brown spent a day with the finalists to see how they defined Turning Points in History.”

Support the Teaching and Learning of History

Your support of National History Day is an investment in the future.

Judges Needed

Judges make the National History Day contest possible. See how you can provide students with a high-quality educational experience. 

Documenting personal stories, written by students, of those who gave everything for our liberty

National History Day is pleased to thank its generous donors and sponsors