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National History Day

National History Day® encourages students to explore local, state, national, and world history. After selecting a historical topic that relates to an annual theme, students conduct extensive research by using libraries, archives, museums, and oral history interviews. They analyze and interpret their findings, draw conclusions about their topics’ significance in history, and create final projects that present their work. These projects can be entered into a series of competitions, from the local to the national level, where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators.

“In fact, students who are exposed to more modern methods of history education—where critical thinking and research are emphasized—tend to perform better in math and science. As a case in point, students who participate in National History Day®—actually a year-long program that gets students in grades 6-12 doing historical research—consistently outperform their peers on state standardized tests, not only in social studies but in science and math as well.” — Norm Augustine, former CEO of Lockheed Martin

Read Norm Augustine’s full op-ed piece about National History Day® from the Wall Street Journal.

North Country History Day 2025

Fort Ticonderoga coordinates North Country History Day, serving students in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, St. Lawrence, and Warren counties in New York State. The 2025 North Country History Day Regional Contest will take place on a Saturday in March to be determined, at the Mars Education Center at Fort Ticonderoga. Registration will open in late January 2025 with a registration deadline in mid-February 2025.

Students compete at two levels: Junior (students in grades 6-8) and Senior (students in grades 9-12). Students create entries in various categories: Historical Papers, Individual and Group Exhibits, Individual and Group Performances, Individual and Group Documentaries, and Individual and Group Websites.

Students wishing to compete in North Country History Day in 2025 must attend school in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, St. Lawrence, or Warren counties or, if homeschooled, must reside in one of those six counties. We can help direct students from beyond the North Country to the proper New York State region.

Rich Strum, North Country History Day Regional Coordinator, is available to meet with teachers and students either in person or via Zoom about how to start a History Day program in your school. Contact him today.