Indiana Humanities takes over National History Day, preserving program for 5,000+ Indiana students after Historical Society cuts
Indiana Humanities will serve as Indiana’s affiliate for the National History Day student competition after the Indiana Historical Society ended its longtime sponsorship and cut 11 positions. The program reaches more than 5,000 Indiana students annually; organizers say details for the 2026-27 season will be released later.
Indiana Humanities announced it will become the statewide sponsor for National History Day in Indiana, stepping in after the Indiana Historical Society terminated its sponsorship in July. The academic program engages middle- and high-school students in research and presentation projects and serves more than 5,000 students in the state each year.
The Historical Society ended its role the same day it laid off 11 employees from exhibits, education and library services. Those staffing changes followed a 2025 state budget action that transferred ownership of the land under the society’s Indianapolis headquarters while ending about $1 million in annual state support for maintenance and operations.
BusinessIndy examines this development and its implications for Indiana businesses and communities using the linked sources.
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