National History Day in Maine is a collaborative effort between the
Margaret Chase Smith Library and foundation,
The Maine Humanities Council, the University of Maine,
the Maine Masonic College,
John Bapst Memorial High School, University of Southern Maine,
and The University of maine at presque Isle.

high academic standards

The National History Day in Maine program adheres closely to social studies standards in the areas of historical skills, literacy, and in-depth research in the following ways:

Posing Questions About Topics in History
Building a Strong Thesis Statement
Locating Primary and Secondary Sources
Using Sources to Draw Conclusions
Presenting the Findings

Annual Theme

A new theme is chosen every year by the National History Day organization. Past themes included:

Leadership & Legacy in History
Conflict & Compromise in History
Turning Points in History
Triumph & Tragedy in History
Communication in History: The Key to Understanding

2026 Theme: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History

National history day in maine

A History Education Program for Grades 6-12

National History Day in Maine is a co-curricular academic program that fosters in-depth research and critical analysis skills for students in grades 6-12. Students select a topic relating to a national theme. Using primary and secondary resources, students research a topic and present conclusions in one of the following ways:

Research Paper: Traditional academic paper, complete with citations
Exhibit: Museum-style exhibit using images, text, and supporting resources
Documentary: 10-minute video combining images and analytical narration
Performance: 10-minute live performance using actual or composite character
Website: Web-based collection of interactive pages

Click here for national award winning examples from each category.

An academic challenge

Students may choose to enter their projects in the History Day event. This four-level competition includes classroom evaluations, regional and state competitions, and a national event. Students compete in either the Junior (grades 6-8) or Senior (grades 9-12) division.

Projects are evaluated against these standards:

Historical Quality
Relation to Theme
Clarity of Presentation

student outcomes

Increased Engagement with History
Enhanced Research Skills
Improved Literacy

2026 contest central

NhdWebcentral resources

resources

nhd lesson plans

Registration Links

Registration fee is $15.00 per student
for the Northern, Central, and Southern Regionals
After registering at the link below, send a check or money order made out to the University of Maine to:

Margaret Chase Smith Library.
56 Norridgewock Ave
Skowhegan, ME 04976