About Central Regional Fair
Illinois History Day began in 1947 as a publication entitled Illinois Junior Historian and later Illinois History sponsored by the Illinois State Historical Society. By 1963 the monthly essay and art contest for the magazine soon grew into physical fairs where students could show off their talents and craftsmanship.
Illinois History Day is an annual state-wide academic competition in which students can create a wide variety of projects (exhibit, research paper, website, documentary, or performance) about an aspect of Illinois history. Students from sixth grade through eighth grade participate in the Junior Division and students from ninth grade through twelfth grade participate in the Senior Division.
Illinois History Day consists of four regions; Northern, Central, Southern, and Chicago Metro. Students will participate in their respective regional competitions in hopes of being selected to participate in the state competition held in Springfield on the first Thursday in May.
Students must ensure that their projects meet the qualifications listed in this handbook. Projects will be assessed based on historical accuracy, clarity in argument, relevance to Illinois, and the overall quality of the presentation.
This year's Central Regional Fair will be held on March 9, 2019 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, IL.
Setup Needed...
What to Expect During the contest
Setup Needed...
Judge Criteria
A text overview of the job and criteria of a contest judge.