Young historians from across the state gathered in person for the first time in three years for the North Carolina Museum of History’s 2023 Tar Heel Junior Historian Association Annual Convention in June. The all-day event featured dynamic learning experiences that help young people appreciate and understand North Carolina’s rich history and recognized the junior historians for their impactful historical work on projects.

Workshops connected to the 2022–2023 themes of Tar Heel Junior Historian Magazine. Highlights included: performances from local musicians, learning how to play the dulcimer, building their own banjos, and diving into the science of sound.

Representing Cumberland County was Azaleyah Mosqueda from Saint Patrick Catholic School. Mosqueda won second place in the intermediate division of the Exhibit & Visual Arts Contest for her submission Town Creek Indian Mound.

“Knowing about who came before us is an infectious thing,” said Dr. Darren Waters, Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Office of Archives and History during his opening remarks to the young historians. “I am hoping you’re deeply inspired and bring inspiration back with you to inspire others.”

Other presenters emphasized the importance of knowing our history, including Durham band The Beast, who said, “It is so important to know your roots. If you don’t use the roadmap given to you, you can’t know where you’re going. We must use the roadmap so we never forget where we came from and to improve the way ahead.”

This year’s awards recognized junior historians for their outstanding projects, which featured a wide variety of historical significance of people, places, and events in their own communities and across our state. From artifacts to visual arts, photography, creative writing, and more, there is plenty to learn from in this year’s student projects.

“As the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association, we believe that students can contribute to knowledge of North Carolina history. And it’s true. I learn new things about North Carolina history each year from the students’ projects. From local conservation efforts that saved the bluebird to the story of local students who operated a printing press, it really illustrates that kids can be great historians, too,” said Jessica Pratt, Curator of Education Outreach and THJHA Program Coordinator at the North Carolina Museum of History.

All winning projects are showcased in the exhibit History in Every Direction: Tar Heel Junior Historian Association Discovery Gallery, now open to museum visitors.

Authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1953, the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association is sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of History, part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The association is made up of a network of free clubs across the state, with members in grades 4 to 12.

Clubs may be sponsored by public, private or home schools, or by other organizations such as museums and historical societies, 4-H groups, Boy Scouts, or Girl Scouts. Clubs can be any size, from one student and one adviser to hundreds of students and several advisers.

Clubs must renew their membership each school year, and new clubs can join at any time using an online application at tarheeljuniorhistorians.org.