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Statehood Day Essay Contest

Statehood Day Essay Contest

The Indiana Statehouse Tour Office, in conjunction with the Indiana Center for the Book, holds an essay competition to commemorate Indiana Statehood Day each year. Indiana’s 207th birthday is December 11, 2023. Winners of the essay contest will be honored at a Statehood Day Celebration. The 2023 celebration is on December 11, 2023 at the Indiana Statehouse and on December 8, 2023 at the Indiana State Museum. The 2023 contest is now closed. Please check back next year to enter! The theme of the 2023 contest is “Playing IN Indiana.” Judges are looking forward to seeing your students’ interpretation of the theme. Play can encompass Indiana sports, recreation in Indiana’s parks, playing music, visiting amusement parks, and so much more. We hope this theme builds awareness and appreciation for the Hoosier state.

Group entries and individual entries are accepted each year. Fourth grade teachers are encouraged to use our Lesson Plan and previous winning essays to assist in their participation.

Statehouse Tour Office, Jeannette Goben
317-233-5293, jgoben@idoa.in.gov

Statehouse Education Center, Bailey Hinton
317-233-5582, bhinton1@idoa.in.gov


State Museum, Nicole Rife 
463-203-8802 NRife@indianamuseum.org 


State Library, Suzanne Walker
317-232-3700, suwalker@library.in.gov

About the Statehood Day Essay Contest

The Statehood Day Essay Contest takes place annually in the fall and is open to all Indiana fourth graders. All Indiana students are taught Indiana history as part of their fourth-grade curriculum. The program is administered by the Indiana Statehouse Tour Office and Indiana Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. The essays are judged by a panel of Indiana State Library staff and volunteer educators.

If you have questions about the Statehood Day Essay Contest, please contact Indiana Center for the Book at icb@library.in.gov or 317-232-3700.

Statehood Day Essay Contest Sponsors

Indiana State Library Indiana State Museum

CollegChoice529

IND SW 11-20-2023