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  • National Hispanic Heritage Month

    Learn about National Hispanic Heritage Month and Spanish influence on American history through our suite of resources developed in conjunction with the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute and the Royal Academy of History of Spain.

    Explore National Hispanic Heritage Month
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  • The Founding Era

    This new unit is part of the History School Book Club. The founding era refers to the period in American history from approximately 1774 to 1797, encompassing the Revolutionary War, the establishment of the United States, and the creation of its foundational government.

    Discover The Founding Era
    Mezzotint based on David Martin's late 18th-century portrait. At the bottom corners of the print, Martin is credited with the original painting and Edward Savage with the engraving of this mezzotint. Title is in cursive across the bottom of the sheet, whereas the original portrait has a printed title. Franklin is reading at a small table with his hand at his throat. To his right, perched atop a pile of books, is a bust of Isaac Newton.

  • The Citizenship Test

    Civics and American History

    The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is excited to introduce our new Citizenship hub. Take the US Naturalization Exam—available in short, intermediate, full, and Kahoot! formats—and receive real-time feedback on your results!

    Explore Citizenship Resources Take Citizenship Test
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  • The Fate of the American Constitution

    This new self-paced course, led by John Fabian Witt, Yale University, takes up the social and political history of the document and the practices that have arisen around it, from the founding era to the 1937 transformation that now hangs in the balance.

    See Full Course Description
    Resolution of Congress forwarding Constitution to the states for ratification

    • 15 Professional Development Hours

  • Master’s Degree in American History

    K–12 educators can earn their graduate degree in this affordable, online, accredited program. Applications are open all year and are reviewed on a rolling basis.


    Spring registration opens on Monday, November 24.

    Apply Today
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    Learn with the Gilder Lehrman Institute

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    Teacher

    MA in American History

    Our master’s degree program gives K–12 educators an affordable way to earn a graduate degree while working full time.

    Learn about the MA Program
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    All Audiences

    Self-Paced Courses

    Explore American history from your own home, in your own time, and at your own pace! Educators can obtain professional development credit.

    Explore Self-Paced Courses
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    Student

    History U

    Free, self-paced courses in American history for high school students. Students must be 13 or older to register for a course.

    Browse History U Courses

    Upcoming Events

    Striking pecan shellers picketing on the sidewalk in front of the Southern Pecan Shelling Company, San Antonio, TX, 1938.
    • Commemorative Months
    Monday, September 15–Wednesday, October 15, 2025

    National Hispanic Heritage Month

    Deepen your knowledge of this commemoration with historical documents, essays, videos, and lesson plans from the Gilder Lehrman Institute.

    "Their Sitting at Meate," engraving number 16 from De Bry, 1590. (New York Public Library)
    • American Historical Holidays
    Monday, October 13, 2025

    Constitution Day

    Deepen your knowledge of this holiday with historical documents, essays, videos, and lesson plans from the Gilder Lehrman Institute.

    See All Events

    Upcoming Deadlines

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    • Fellowship
    • Researchers
    Monday, October 27, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET

    Scholarly Fellowship Applications

    Deadline for scholars of American history to apply for a $3000 research fellowship. 

    Three students on the Hamilton Musical set performing as part of the EduHam program
    • Teachers
    • Students
    Monday, December 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET

    Eduham Online Competition and Lottery

    Submit your best creative piece for the chance to see Hamilton in New York City!  (Lottery deadline: February 15)

    See All Deadlines

    Book Breaks

    Every Sunday at 2:00 pm ET (11:00 am PT) on Zoom

    Books leaning against each other

    Join us for our weekly interview series in which historians discuss their acclaimed books followed by a Q&A with the at-home audience. Please click any of the upcoming episodes to register. You can purchase any of the books featured on our bookshop.org page, for which we receive an affiliate commission.

    Browse Past Episodes Learn More

    Upcoming Episodes

    Kostya Kennedy, author
    Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET

    Kostya Kennedy

    The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America

    Jon Meacham, author
    Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET

    Jon Meacham, Vanderbilt University

    The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States

    Jared Cohen, author
    Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET

    Jared Cohen

    Life After Power: Seven Presidents and Their Search for Purpose Beyond the White House

    Our Historical Documents

    In 1991, Richard Gilder and Lewis Lehrman embarked on a mission to create one of the most important repositories of historical American documents in the country. Today, the Gilder Lehrman Collection comprises over 87,000 items that document the political, social, and economic history of the United States.

    Learn about the Collection Search Our Collection

      History Now

      The Online Journal of the Gilder Lehrman Institute

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      Published four times a year, History Now features essays by the nation’s leading historians for teachers, students, and general readers.

      History Now is free for everyone and does not require a subscription or login.

      Browse Issues

      Latest Issues

      How to Research a World War II Veteran

      Learn about the historical research process in this step-by-step guide. As you progress, you will have opportunities to apply what you are learning.

      Image: American Servicemen and women in Paris celebrating the unconditional surrender of the Japanese, August 15, 1945 (National Archives, 111-SC-210241)

      View Guide
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      News

      Our News

      Stay up to date with all the work that we do to combat historical illiteracy and invigorate the study of the past.

      See Our News

      Newsletter

      Catch up on the highlights from our work with students, teachers, researchers, and the general public.

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      Press Releases

      See all official press releases for our important events, significant programs, and special initiatives.

      View Press Releases