Michigan History Day Competition

Michigan History Day is a competition for students in grades 4 through 12 that offers an exciting means for students to learn history. Students, working as groups or individuals, prepare exhibits, media, projects, dramatic performances, or historical papers that explore a broad theme set each year by the National History Day contest.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum hosts the southwest Michigan district-level competition of the Michigan History Day Contest. The District competition is held each year in early March. Registration for the competition is in mid-February. Information for teachers, parents, and students is available in early September from the District Coordinator, Tom Dietz.

The southwest Michigan District includes Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties. Qualifying entries at the district level may compete at the state finals in late April. Qualifiers at that level are eligible to enter the National History Day contest in early June at the University of Maryland.

For additional information about the contest, please visit the Historical Society of Michigan website at www.hsmichigan.org and the National History Day website at www.nationalhistoryday.org.