State of Montana Newsroom
Montana Heritage Center to Host Students for National History Day Contest
Helena, MT — The Montana Historical Society will welcome 172 student historians to the Montana Heritage Center on February 14, 2026, for a regional History Day contest. According to organizers, this year’s contest is the largest in recent memory, and doubles last year’s numbers.
The event, part of the National History Day in Montana program, will bring together students in grades 6-12 from across western and central Montana to present their historical research projects in five competitive categories: documentary films, exhibit boards, research papers, performances, and websites. The competition represents the first level of in-person contests for the History Day season, with students preparing their projects throughout the school year under the guidance of their teachers.
"The growth of History Day in Montana—from 50 regional participants in 2024 to over triple that this year—has been really special to watch," said Melissa Hibbard, co-coordinator of National History Day in Montana. "Hosting this competition at the Montana Heritage Center allows us to welcome these young historians into a space where they can see themselves as part of Montana's ongoing story."
While in Helena, participating students will have the opportunity to tour both the newly opened Heritage Center and the State Capitol Building, enriching their understanding of Montana's history and government.
"These students are learning about history, but they're also practicing it," added Hibbard. "When they come to the Heritage Center, they're engaging with professional historians and primary source materials, experiencing firsthand what it means to be a historian."
More than 70 judges including professional historians, university professors, and educators, have volunteered to evaluate the projects. Top two finishers in each category will advance to the state contest at Montana State University in Bozeman, with additional advancement opportunities available for students whose teachers commit to helping them refine their projects based on judges' feedback.
The West-Central regional contest in Helena is one of three being held for Montana students this season. A Northwest Montana regional was held in Kalispell on February 7, and a combined Eastern Montana/Western North Dakota regional is scheduled for March 17 in Dickinson, North Dakota. This year's statewide participation totals approximately 320 students competing with 240 projects—a dramatic increase from 86 participants and 50 projects statewide in 2024, when the program relaunched after a hiatus.
Winners from all regional competitions will advance to the state contest in Bozeman, with top state finishers ultimately qualifying to compete at the national contest in College Park, Maryland in June.
The public is invited to observe the competition and view student projects from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on February 14 at the Montana Heritage Center. An awards ceremony will conclude the day's events.
For more information on the Montana Historical Society and Montana Heritage Center, visit mths.mt.gov.
For more information on National History Day in Montana, visit nationalhistorydaymt.org or contact Melissa Hibbard at Melissa.Hibbard@mt.govor