About the Contest
The Washington State America’s 250th K–12 Local History Writing Contest is a statewide writing competition for K–12 students across Washington.
Created in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary, the contest encourages students to explore local history through the people, places, and stories of their own communities. Students may choose from three themes: We the People, Power of Place, and Sharing History. They may write about a person or group, a meaningful place, or a local story that deserves greater attention.
Entries should be based on research and original student writing. Students are encouraged to look beyond textbooks by using local sources such as libraries, archives, historic photographs, newspapers, interviews, and community resources.
Through the contest, students have the opportunity to strengthen their research and writing skills while contributing their own perspectives to the story of Washington during this historic 250th anniversary year.
Contest Themes
WE THE PEOPLE
Who helped shape your community?
Write about a person or group whose story deserves to be remembered.
POWER OF PLACE
What place tells an important story about your community?
Write about a building, neighborhood, park, landmark, or other place and explain why it matters.
SHARING HISTORY
What story from your community should more people know?
Find a local story that may be overlooked and explain why it should be remembered and shared.
Contest Dates
– October 31, 2026
Who Can Enter?
The contest is open to K–12 students across Washington State.
Submission Requirements
Writing Format
Submit an original piece of writing based on one of the three contest themes.
Your writing should focus on a person, group, place, event, or story connected to the history of your community and explain why it matters.
Grades K–5
Submit an original history writing piece of no more than 500 words.
Students may write a short essay, story, letter, journal entry, biography, or other form of original writing. Illustrations or historical photographs may be included, but they are optional and will not be judged separately.
Grades 6–12
Submit an original history writing piece of no more than 1,000 words.
Students should develop their topic using historical research, personal or community perspectives, and supporting evidence where appropriate.
Research & Local History Resources
Entries may draw on books, archives, historic newspapers, photographs, museums, interviews, and other reliable sources. Students may also write about events, experiences, or changes they have witnessed in their own families, schools, neighborhoods, or communities.
A good place to begin is your local public library, historical society, museum, archive, or tribal cultural center. These organizations may have historic newspapers, photographs, maps, oral histories, local books, archival collections, and people who can help you find reliable sources.
Statewide Online Resources
Find Resources by County
Choose your county, then look for your city or a nearby community. The organizations below are starting points, not a complete list. Students are encouraged to explore additional libraries, museums, archives, tribal cultural centers, historical societies, and community organizations in their own area.
Adams County
Ritzville / Lind
Local history: Adams County Historical Society
Othello
Local history: Adams County Historical Society
Asotin County
Asotin / Clarkston
Local history: Asotin County Historical Society
Benton County
Kennewick
Local history: East Benton County Historical Society / Museum at Keewaydin
Richland
Local history: Hanford History Project and local museum collections
Prosser
Local history: Benton County and Prosser-area heritage resources
Chelan County
Wenatchee
Local history: Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center
Cashmere
Local history: Cashmere Museum & Pioneer Village
Leavenworth
Local history: Greater Leavenworth Museum
Chelan
Local history: Lake Chelan historical collections and community archives
Clallam County
Port Angeles
Local history: North Olympic History Center
Sequim
Local history: Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley
Forks
Local history: Forks-area local history and logging collections
Clark County
Vancouver
Local history: Clark County Historical Museum
Camas / Washougal
Local history: Two Rivers Heritage Museum
Battle Ground / Ridgefield
Local history: North Clark County and Ridgefield-area heritage resources
Columbia County
Dayton
Local history: Dayton Historical Depot Society / local heritage collections
Starbuck
Local history: Columbia County Historical Society
Cowlitz County
Longview
Local history: Cowlitz County Historical Museum
Kelso
Local history: Cowlitz County Historical Society
Castle Rock / Woodland
Local history: Local heritage and Mount St. Helens-area collections
Douglas County
East Wenatchee / Waterville
Local history: Douglas County Museum / Douglas County Historical Society
Bridgeport
Local history: Local Columbia River community-history resources
Ferry County
Republic / Curlew / Inchelium
Local history: Ferry County Historical Society
Franklin County
Pasco
Local history: Franklin County Historical Society & Museum
Connell
Local history: Franklin County local-history collections
Garfield County
Pomeroy
Local history: Garfield County Historical Society
Grant County
Ephrata
Local history: Grant County Historical Society Museum & Village
Moses Lake
Local history: Moses Lake Museum & Art Center
Quincy / Grand Coulee
Local history: Columbia Basin and local community-history resources
Grays Harbor County
Aberdeen / Hoquiam
Local history: Polson Museum / Grays Harbor historical collections
Montesano
Local history: Grays Harbor County local-history resources
Ocean Shores / Westport
Local history: Coastal and maritime heritage collections
Island County
Coupeville
Local history: Island County Historical Society & Museum
Oak Harbor
Local history: PBY–Naval Air Museum and Whidbey history resources
Langley / South Whidbey
Local history: South Whidbey Historical Society
Jefferson County
Port Townsend
Local history: Jefferson County Historical Society / Museum of Art + History
Port Hadlock / Quilcene
Local history: Jefferson County local-history collections
King County
Seattle
Local history: Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) and neighborhood historical organizations
Bellevue
Local history: Eastside Heritage Center
Redmond
Local history: Redmond Historical Society
Kirkland
Local history: Kirkland Heritage Society
Issaquah
Local history: Issaquah History Museums
Renton
Local history: Renton History Museum
Auburn
Local history: White River Valley Museum
Mercer Island
Local history: Mercer Island Historical Society
Kent / Sammamish / other King County communities
Local history: Association of King County Historical Organizations member groups
Kitsap County
Bremerton
Local history: Kitsap History Museum
Bainbridge Island
Local history: Bainbridge Island Historical Museum
Poulsbo
Local history: Poulsbo Historical Society
Port Orchard / Silverdale
Local history: Local maritime, Navy, and community-history collections
Kittitas County
Ellensburg
Local history: Kittitas County Historical Museum
Roslyn
Local history: Roslyn Museum
Cle Elum
Local history: Upper Kittitas County heritage resources
Klickitat County
Goldendale
Local history: Klickitat County Historical Society / Presby Museum
White Salmon / Bingen
Local history: Columbia Gorge local-history resources
Lewis County
Centralia / Chehalis
Local history: Lewis County Historical Museum
Winlock / Toledo / Morton
Local history: Local town and community heritage collections
Lincoln County
Davenport
Local history: Lincoln County Historical Society
Odessa / Reardan / Harrington / Sprague / Wilbur
Local history: Local town-history collections and Lincoln County heritage resources
Mason County
Shelton
Local history: Mason County Historical Museum
Belfair / Hoodsport
Local history: Hood Canal and local community-history resources
Okanogan County
Okanogan / Omak
Local history: Okanogan County Historical Society
Winthrop
Local history: Shafer Historical Museum
Twisp / Oroville / Tonasket
Local history: Methow Valley and Okanogan County local-history resources
Pacific County
South Bend
Local history: Pacific County Historical Society & Museum
Raymond
Local history: Northwest Carriage Museum / Willapa-area heritage resources
Ilwaco / Long Beach
Local history: Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum
Pend Oreille County
Newport
Local history: Pend Oreille County Historical Society & Museum
Cusick / Ione / Metaline Falls
Local history: Local mining, river, and community-history resources
Pierce County
Tacoma
Local history: Washington State Historical Society / Tacoma Historical Society
Puyallup
Local history: Puyallup Historical Society at Meeker Mansion
Steilacoom
Local history: Steilacoom Historical Museum Association
Gig Harbor
Local history: Harbor History Museum
DuPont / Lakewood / Sumner
Local history: DuPont Historical Museum and other local heritage organizations
San Juan County
Friday Harbor
Local history: San Juan Historical Museum
Eastsound / Orcas Island
Local history: Orcas Island Historical Museums
Lopez Island
Local history: Lopez Island Historical Museum
Skagit County
Mount Vernon
Local history: Skagit County Historical Museum
Anacortes
Local history: Anacortes Museum
Burlington
Local history: Skagit Valley local-history resources
La Conner
Local history: Museum of Northwest Art / local heritage collections
Sedro-Woolley / Concrete
Local history: Local logging, railroad, and community-history resources
Skamania County
Stevenson
Local history: Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center / Skamania County Historical Society
North Bonneville / Carson
Local history: Columbia Gorge local-history resources
Snohomish County
Everett
Local history: Everett Museum of History
Edmonds
Local history: Edmonds Historical Museum
Monroe
Local history: Monroe Historical Society
Snohomish
Local history: Snohomish Historical Society
Stanwood
Local history: Stanwood Area Historical Society
Mukilteo / Lynnwood / Marysville
Local history: Local heritage groups and Snohomish County heritage network
Spokane County
Spokane
Local history: Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture / Eastern Washington State Historical Society
Spokane Valley
Local history: Spokane Valley and county local-history collections
Cheney
Local history: Cheney Historical Museum / local university and community archives
Liberty Lake
Local history: Local community-history resources
Stevens County
Colville
Local history: Stevens County Historical Society / Keller Heritage Center
Chewelah / Kettle Falls / Northport
Local history: Local mining, river, and community-history collections
Thurston County
Olympia
Local history: Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum
Tumwater
Local history: Tumwater Historical Association
Lacey / Tenino / Yelm
Local history: Thurston County Historical Society and local heritage resources
Wahkiakum County
Cathlamet / Skamokawa / Puget Island
Local history: Wahkiakum County Historical Society
Walla Walla County
Walla Walla
Local history: Fort Walla Walla Museum / Kirkman House Museum
College Place
Local history: Walla Walla Valley heritage resources
Waitsburg
Local history: Waitsburg Historical Society
Whatcom County
Bellingham
Local history: Whatcom Museum / Whatcom County Historical Society
Ferndale
Local history: Ferndale-area and Whatcom County heritage resources
Lynden
Local history: Lynden Pioneer Museum
Blaine / Everson
Local history: Local border, agricultural, and community-history collections
Whitman County
Pullman
Local history: Washington State University Manuscripts, Archives & Special Collections / local history resources
Colfax
Local history: Whitman County Historical Society
Palouse / Tekoa / Rosalia
Local history: Local Palouse and town-history collections
Yakima County
Yakima
Local history: Yakima Valley Museum
Toppenish / Wapato
Local history: Yakama Nation cultural and heritage resources / local museums
Sunnyside / Grandview / Selah / Zillah
Local history: Local agricultural, migration, and community-history collections
Recognition & Digital Exhibition
Outstanding entries will be recognized. All eligible submissions will be included in a digital exhibition showcasing student voices and community stories from across Washington. Together, these works will create a collective youth contribution to the commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.
