Guide to Competition
The National History
Day program includes a progressive contest cycle open to students
in grades 6-12. Wisconsin students may compete at the local,
regional, state, and national levels. Information about contest
rules can be found in the contest rulebook.
School/Local Events
Many teachers opt to organize a school or local History Day
event prior to the regional event. These events function as
history fairs and offer a great opportunity to bring families,
school administrators, and other community members into the
classroom. Since regional coordinators usually must limit the
number of entries per category that they will accept from each
school, schools with a large number of History Day participants
generally use school events to select the entries that will
go on. View our school events page to
learn more and download useful materials. Need more information?
Contact the staff at the state office via e-mail at historyday@wisconsinhistory.org.
Regional Events
Wisconsin’s regional events are usually held during March
and early April. The three top-ranking entries per category
go on to the state event. (Categories are separated by age division,
group type, and project type. For example, “Senior Group
Documentary” is one category.) Each region has its own
coordinator and includes a multi-county area. Regional coordinators
set participation guidelines for their events, including limits
on entries per school and entry fees. To learn more about the
regional event your school will attend and to find out how to
contact your regional coordinator, check our directory of regional
contact information.
State Event
The Wisconsin State History Day Event takes place in either
late April or early May at the Wisconsin Historical Society
and at nearby facilities on the UW-Madison campus. Every Wisconsin
school that participates in History Day may send at least one
entry to the state event, so teachers may select a “Best
of School” entry to participate IF no entry from the school
ranks within the top three in its category at the regional level.
(Note: This policy does not apply to home school students.)
The two highest-ranking entries at the state event are eligible
to participate in the national contest in June. The state event
is sponsored and coordinated by Wisconsin Historical Society.
View contact information for program
coordinators.
National Contest
The national contest is held during the second or third week
of June at the University of Maryland – College Park,
which is located just a short metro ride from downtown Washington
D.C. Wisconsin students travel independently to the national
contest and usually opt to stay with the state’s delegation
in the campus dormitories. At the national contest, judging
of projects is just one part of an exciting week filled with
opportunities to explore the nation’s capital and meet
students from across the country. To experience the national
contest through the eyes of Wisconsin students, check out the
online journals of past delegations.
Questions about participation in History Day events? Please
do not hesitate to contact the state
office.
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