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 209th birthday is December 11, 2025. Winners of the essay contest will be honored at a Statehood Day Celebration. The 2025 celebration is on December 11, 2025, at the Indiana Statehouse and at the Indiana State Museum. The 2025 contest is now open! The theme of the 2025 contest is “Explore Indiana!” Judges are looking forward to seeing your students’ interpretation of the theme. Review more about the theme in the Contest Rules below. 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.
- 2025 Contest Rules and How to Enter
- 2025 Group Entry Form (for classes, teachers, and all entries from schools)
- 2025 Individual Entry Form (for parents)
- 2024 Winning Essays
- Lesson Plan for 4th Grade Teachers
Statehouse Tour Office, Bailey Hinton
317-233-5293, bhinton1@idoa.in.gov
State Museum, Nicole Rife
463-203-8802 NRife@indianamuseum.org
State Library, Indiana Center for the Book
317-232-3700, icb@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
IND SW 9-17-2025