National History Day Northern NM Regional Contest

The public is invited to experience the energy and enthusiasm of students in grades 6-12 during National History Day (NHD)’s Northern New Mexico Regional Contest. This annual event, supported by the Historical Society of New Mexico, brings hundreds of students, teachers, and judges to the museum for a juried competition of student projects on a range of historical topics.

This year’s theme, "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History,” offered a broad framework for students to investigate subjects ranging from ancient civilizations to contemporary movements to global events.

Each fall, students select a topic that fits the annual national theme. This broad framework allows students to investigate a wide range of historical subjects—from ancient civilizations to contemporary movements, and from global events to local stories. Students work individually or in teams (2–5 students, except for papers which are individual) to create one of five project types: Documentary, Exhibit, Research Paper, Performance, and Website.

NHD encourages critical thinking, primary source research, and creative expression through historical projects. Aligned with New Mexico’s Social Studies State Standards, NHD empowers students to explore topics they care about while developing essential academic skills. Through this process, students become experts in their chosen topics and often passionate advocates for the histories they uncover.

The New Mexico History Museum (NMHM) is proud to support NHD by hosting the Northern Regional Competition. In the fall we host a Library Day for NHD students, providing research and 

project support. For the last two years the NMHM has hosted a NHD Student Exhibit that has been displayed in the Palace of the Governors.  Additionally, we have hosted a Summer Internship Program that is open to NHD participants.