Florida History Day

Resources for Florida History Day 2025

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Florida History Day is an annual statewide activity sponsored by the Museum of Florida History. A Florida History Day entry can address any person, event or idea from any time or place in history, but it must relate to the 2025 National History Day theme Rights & Responsibilities in History.

The NHD 2025 Contest Theme Book (PDF) describes this year's theme as "very broad, allowing students to choose family, local, national, or world history topics." This year's theme is "focused on both historical rights and responsibilities." Therefore, "NHD projects in 2025 must focus on both as well." The theme book provides a detailed explanation of rights, responsibilities, and their relationship to each other.

The following resources address several topics in Florida history.

Rights & Responsibilities in History

Land and the Environment

Florida’s beautiful landscape and natural resources have long been at the center of debates over rights and responsibilities. From the early struggles of Native nations to protect their ancestral homelands from Spanish colonizers to modern-day fights to protect the environment, the relationship between humans and land have been complex. What responsibilities do humans have to their environment and the land? How can we balance economic development with environmental protection? How do we honor Native nations and their rights to their homelands? The topics in this section are suggestions designed to help you think about these questions.

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Drawn portrait of Osceola, a leader among the Seminole people
Drawn portrait of Osceola, a leader among the Seminole people
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Construction map of the Cross Florida Barge Canal
Construction map of the Cross Florida Barge Canal
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South Florida environmentalist John Pennekamp with President Truman
South Florida environmentalist John Pennekamp with President Truman
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Portrait of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Portrait of Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Public Health, Safety, and Well-Being

From the yellow fever epidemics of the 18th century to countless hurricanes, Floridians have faced many challenges when it comes to staying safe and healthy. Many Floridians have also worked hard to make sure everyone can access resources that improve their lives. The suggested topics in this section encourage you to think about the rights and responsibilities of individuals, communities, and governments as they work together to respond to public health crises and natural disasters, and build the resources to live happily in the Sunshine State.

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Map showing flood damage to the Lake Okeechobee area by the hurricanes of 1926 and 1928
Map showing flood damage to the Lake Okeechobee area by the hurricanes of 1926 and 1928
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Drawing related to Yellow Fever - Gainesville, Florida
Drawing related to Yellow Fever - Gainesville, Florida
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Legislative act stipulating requirements for practicing medicine or surgery in the Territory of Florida
Legislative act stipulating requirements for practicing medicine or surgery in the Territory of Florida
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Florida State College for Women students in the 'College Defense Garden' - Tallahassee, Florida
Florida State College for Women students in the "College Defense Garden" - Tallahassee, Florida
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Tanker 'Gulfland' burning in the water - Hobe Sound, Florida
Tanker "Gulfland" burning in the water - Hobe Sound, Florida

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