The theme of this year's NHD program is Science, Technology, Invention in History. More than half a million students will participate and enter their projects in contests at the regional, state, and finally the national level. Many students are expected to develop projects related to the history of space. Since 1974, National History Day has grown from a local Cleveland, Ohio competition with about 100 students to a national academic program. It is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, corporations, foundations, and individuals.
Judges are university professors, high school teachers, museum curators and other public historians.