Contests are an exciting element of Michigan History Day and we encourage people to participate in an event in their area. National History Day® hosts the National Contest, which is the final stage of a series of contests at the local and state levels.
To participate in the State Finals, students must qualify at a district contest. Information about district contests can be found below. The top three entries in each age division and category at a district contest qualify for the State Finals. The top two entries in every category at the junior and senior division at the state level are then invited to the National Contest.
Contest Age Divisions
Youth (Grades 3-5)
Junior (Grades 6-8)
Senior (Grades 9-12)
Categories
Documentary (Individual & Group)
Exhibit (Individual & Group)
Paper (Individual only)
Performance (Individual & Group)
Website (Individual & Group)
A group can have two to five students.
State Finals
The State Finals for Michigan History Day are typically on the last Saturday of April each year. Click the button below to learn more about the State Finals and to register for the contest.
District Information
There are 11 different districts that participate in the Michigan History Day® program. Winners of these district competitions move on to the Michigan History Day state final competition, which is scheduled each year in late April. Please contact your district coordinator listed below for detailed information. Entry forms and district contest dates are posted as soon as they are available.
We encourage schools with high participation to facilitate school-level competitions based on the National History Day model. Each school will be limited to sending the top three entries in each of the nine categories. (In schools where grade levels include two or more age divisions, then the top three entries for each grade division will be accepted).
State and district coordinators are available to help teachers and administrators organize these events, which should take place 1-3 weeks in advance of the district registration deadlines. Teachers may implement their own system for selecting the top three entries in each category should a school-level event not be possible.
Not sure of your district? Visit the Find Your District page to look it up.
Looking for resources in your area? Click on the Historical Resources link under each district to view a list of Historical Organizations organized by county.
District 1
Contest Date: TBD
Contest Location: Michigan Technological University
Registration Deadline: TBD
Project Materials Due: TBD
Click here to register for the contest and submit materials.
Steven Walton
Social Sciences Department
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI 49931
(906) 487-3272
sawalton@mtu.edu
Sarah Fayen Scarlett
Social Sciences Department
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI 49931
(906) 487-3080
sfscarle@mtu.edu
Lindsay Hiltunen
University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI 49931
(906) 487-2505
lehalkol@mtu.edu
District 1 Historical Organizations
District 2
Contest Date: March 15, 2024
Contest Location: Lake Superior State University
Registration Deadline: TBD
Project Materials Due: TBD
See website for details.
Click here to register for the contest and submit materials.
Julie Coneset
Eastern UP ISD
315 Armory Place
Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783
(906) 632-3373 ext. 5111
jconeset@eupschools.org
Helen Craig
Eastern UP ISD
315 Armory Place
Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783
hcraig-isd@eupschools.org
District 2 Historical Organizations
District 3
Contest Date: TBD
Contest Location: TBD
Registration Deadline: TBD
Project Materials Due: TBD
Click here to register and submit materials.
Amy Bradfield
Historical Society of Michigan
7435 Westshire Dr.
Lansing, MI 48917
michiganhistoryday@hsmichigan.org
District 3 Historical Organizations
District 4
Contest Date: TBD
Contest Location: TBD
Registration Deadline: TBD
Project Materials Due: TBD
Click here to register for the contest and submit materials.
Sean O’Neill
Department of History
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI 49401
(616) 331-3325
oneills@gvsu.edu
District 5
Contest Date: TBD
Contest Location: Chippewa Nature Center
Click here to register and submit materials.
Visit this website for registration link and additional details.
Jay Martin
Director, Museum of Cultural and Natural History
Central Michigan University
marti6jc@cmich.edu
(989) 774-7165
Corrine Bloomfield
Historical Interpreter, Chippewa Nature Center
400 S. Badour
Midland, MI 48640
(989) 631-0830
cbloomfield@chippewanaturecenter.org
District 5 Historical Organizations
District 6
Contest Date: TBD
Contest Location: Western Michigan University
See website for details.
Click here to register for the contest and submit materials.
Dr. Bill Warren
Department of History
4301 Friedmann Hall
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5334
(269) 387-4650
wilson.warren@wmich.edu
District 6 Historical Organizations
District 7
Contest Date: TBD
Contest Location: Oakland University
Registration Deadline: TBD
Project Materials Due: TBD
Click here to register for the contest and submit materials.
Historical Society of Michigan
7435 Westshire Dr.
Lansing, MI 48917
michiganhistoryday@hsmichigan.org
District 7 Historical Organizations
District 8
Contest Date: TBD
Contest Location: Oakland University
Registration Deadline: TBD
Project Materials Due: TBD
Click here to register for the contest and submit materials.
Historical Society of Michigan
7435 Westshire Dr.
Lansing, MI 48917
michiganhistoryday@hsmichigan.org
Click here to register for the contest and submit materials.
District 8 Historical Organizations
District 9
Contest Date: TBD
Contest Location: TBD
Amy Bradfield
Historical Society of Michigan
7435 Westshire Dr.
Lansing, MI 48917
michiganhistoryday@hsmichigan.org
Karen Michalec
Owosso Middle School
michalec@owosso.k12.mi.us
District 9 Historical Organizations
District 10
Contest Date: March 2, 2024
Contest Location: Detroit Historical Museum
Registration Opens: Friday, January 12
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 16, 5:00 pm
Project Materials Due: Friday, February 16, 5:00 pm
Click here to register and submit materials.
Kimmie Dobos-Wolfe
Detroit Historical Society, 5401 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 833-7979
district10@detroithistorical.org
District 10 Historical Organizations
District 11
Contest Date: TBD
Contest Location: TBD
Click here to register and submit materials.
Don Erickson
Manistique Senior Center
seniors@scsc.co