Every year National History Day frames students' research within a historical theme. History is more than facts and dates. The annual theme is broad to allow students to explore topics in ancient, world, national or state history. Students draw a connection to the theme by understanding their topic's historical context and significance. The 2027 NHD theme is Innovation in History: Impact, Influence, Change!
Need some ideas to help get you started? Check out what previous Ohio History Day students have done in the sample projects below.
Documentary
Exhibit
Paper
Performance
Website
Allen, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, Wood
Register Here
Coordinator:
Kristin Schnerer
Bowling Green State University
Department of History
128 Williams Hall
Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
p. 419.372.2030
e. [email protected]
Contest Date & Location: Sat., March 6, 2027 | Bowling Green State University
Registration Dates and Fees:
Counties:
Ashland, Crawford, Erie, Huron, Marion, Morrow, Ottawa, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Wyandot
Register Here
Coordinator:
Alex Eveleth
Ohio History Connection
800 E. 17th Ave
Columbus, Ohio
e: [email protected]
Contest Date & Location: TBD | TBD
Registration Dates and Fees
Counties:
Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit
Register Here
Coordinator:
Dr. Mary Manning
Cleveland History Center
10825 E. Blvd.
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
p. 216.721.5722 x1503
e. [email protected] | History Day at Western Reserve Historical Society
Contest Date & Location: Sat., March 6, 2027 | Cleveland History Center
Registration Dates and Fees:
Counties:
Ashtabula, Geauga, Mahoning, Portage, Trumbull
Register Here
Coordinator:
David Simonelli
Youngstown State University
Department of History | DeBartolo Hall, Room 537
One University Plaza
Youngstown, OH 44555
p. 330.941.1601
f. 330.941.2304
e: [email protected]
Contest Date & Location: Sat., March 20, 2027 | Youngstown State University
Registration Dates and Fees
Counties:
Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Muskingum, Stark, Tuscarawas, Wayne
Register Here
Coordinator:
Stephanie Bohnak
First Ladies Library & Museum
205 Market Ave. S
Canton, Ohio
p: 330-293-3852e: [email protected]
Contest Date & Location: Sat., March 20, 2027 | First Ladies Library & Museum
Registration Deadlines & Fees
Counties:
Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Madison, Perry, Pickaway, Union
Register Here
Coordinator:
Emily Volkmann
Museums & Programs Coordinator
Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board
Ohio Statehouse
p. 614.466.9335
e. [email protected]
Contest Date & Location: Sat., March 13, 2027 | Capital Square
Registration Dates and Fees
Counties:
Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby
Register Here
Coordinator:
Steve Lucht
Carillon Historical Park
D1000 Carillon Blvd
Dayton, OH 45409
p. 937.281.4404
e: [email protected]
Contest Date & Location: Sat., March 6, 2027 | Carillon Historical Park
Registration Dates and Fees
Counties:
Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, Warren
Register Here
Coordinator:
Valerie Horobik and Megan Parker
Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45203
p. 513.287.7000 ext 7201
e: [email protected] and [email protected]
Contest Date & Location: Sat., March 13, 2027 | Cincinnati Museum Center
Registration Dates and Fees
Counties:
Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Washington, Vinton
Register Here
Coordinator:
Dan Rowbotham
Director, Madog Center for Welsh Studies
University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College
p. 740.245.7186
e. [email protected]
Contest Date & Location: Sat. March 13, 2027| University of Rio Grande
Registration Dates and Fees
Congratulations on qualifying for the OHD State Contest! Click here to log in to the state contest portal. Use the username and password that you created for your regional contest portal. For more detailed instructions, please view the State Qualifier Packet & Submission Guide.
Got questions? Reach out to the Ohio History Day team at [email protected].
The 2026 State Contest was held in-person on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Capital University. Congratulations on all of your hard work this year students! We hope that everyone had fun and enjoyed learning more about history! View contest results below.
Interested in applying for a special award at the State Contest? Nominate yourself through your online registration. Then email [email protected] a copy of your project, your written materials, and a copy of the Special Award Cover Sheet. You MUST send in a full application for EACH award nomination.
A list of available special awards and application instructions can be found below.
Each year nearly 3,000 students, their families and teachers gather at the University of Maryland, College Park for this week-long event. These enthusiastic groups come from all over the United States, Guam, American Samoa, and affiliates in China, Korea, Latin America and southeast Asia. After spending months researching and preparing their projects, and competing at local and state contests, these students are eager to show their hard work on the national stage. For more information visit: https://www.nhd.org/national-contest.
65 Ohio students qualified for the National Contest in College Park, MD this year! If you weren't able to make the award ceremony, you can view it here. Congratulations to each and every student that presented this year! Your dedication, talent, and hard work have truly shone through. We are so proud of our Ohio Delegation!
