The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is eager to support students who are engaging in historical research for projects, especially those related to National History Day. As the national museum devoted to telling the American story through the African American lens, the NMAAHC can assist students in exploring multiple perspectives in history by providing access to primary sources, supporting materials and expert mentorship.  

National
History Day 
2024 Theme

Turning Points in History

This year, your task as a student participant is to explore a turning point in history through a topic of your choice from local, state, national, or international history.

A turning point in history is more than just an important event that happened a long time ago. It is more than a new idea or a particular action taken by an individual. A turning point is an idea, event, or action that directly, or sometimes indirectly, causes change.

You will need to examine and explain a historical turning point’s immediate, short-term, and long-term effects. In conclusion, your project should answer this question: "So what?" Why should your audience care how an individual, group, event, object, or idea experienced or was a turning point, and how this turning point impacted the course of local, state, national, or international history?

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About National History Day
National History Day ® is an academic competition focusing on history for students in grades 6-12. Today more than half a million students enter the contest. They construct entries as an individual or in a group in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. Students then compete in a series of contests - school, local/regional and state - to proceed to the National Contest held each June at the University of Maryland, College Park. The mission of National History Day is to provide students with opportunities to learn historical content and develop research, thinking and communication skills through the study of history and to provide educators with resources and training to enhance classroom teaching.