Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshops for School Teachers | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NEH Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshops for School Teachers grant?

This National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant supports the design and delivery of residential, one-week summer workshops for a national audience of K-12 educators. The workshops use historically significant places as a core learning environment and pair structured humanities readings with intensive, site-based study to explore central themes in American history and culture.

Who is the intended audience for the workshops?

The workshops are designed for K-12 educators from across the nation. Participating teachers are referred to by NEH as NEH Summer Scholars.

What is the required workshop format?

The program supports residential, one-week summer workshops. Each proposed workshop is offered twice during the summer, and each one-week session serves up to 36 participating teachers.

Are the workshops expected to be residential?

Yes. The opportunity specifies that supported workshops are residential, one-week summer programs.

How many times must a workshop be offered each summer?

Each proposed workshop is offered twice during the summer.

How many teachers can participate per session?

Each one-week session may serve up to 36 participating teachers (NEH Summer Scholars).

What kinds of topics can a workshop cover?

Workshop topics can span American history and government as well as literature, art, music, and closely related humanities fields, as long as they connect meaningfully to American history and culture and are grounded in humanities inquiry.

How is the historic site used in the workshop?

The historic site is intended to function as a primary teaching resource and a "core classroom," not simply as a backdrop. The site should materially strengthen the learning experience in ways that cannot be replicated in a standard classroom.

What level of academic rigor does NEH expect?

NEH expects workshops to be academically rigorous and grounded in major primary sources and influential scholarly interpretations. Strong proposals typically connect readings, lectures, discussions, and on-site exploration into a coherent intellectual theme.

What kinds of learning activities does NEH encourage?

NEH encourages activities that go beyond tours, such as close reading of documents, artifact analysis, field-based interpretive exercises, and collaborative curriculum planning. The program also expects opportunities for teachers to work directly with primary documents and archival or material culture resources.

Do participants develop something they can use in their teaching?

Yes. Strong proposals make room for teachers to develop a tangible project connected to their teaching practice.

What are the main outcomes the program is trying to achieve?

The program emphasizes: deepening teachers' knowledge and appreciation of significant subjects, ideas, and places in American history and culture; building a community of inquiry that models civil, evidence-based discussion and strong scholarship; improving educator skill in interpreting and teaching with historic sites and material or archival collections; and fostering sustained interaction between K-12 educators and recognized scholarly experts.

Are applicants encouraged to include scholars in the workshop?

Yes. NEH encourages applicants to involve leading scholars as lecturers or seminar leaders, supporting sustained interaction between K-12 educators and recognized scholarly experts.

Where must workshops be held?

Workshops must be held at or near sites of clear national historical and cultural significance.

What types of sites does NEH consider appropriate?

Examples listed include presidential homes or libraries, colonial-era settlements, major battlefields, historic districts, parks and preserves, sites tied to major economic, social, political, and constitutional developments, and places associated with prominent writers, artists, and musicians.

What does NEH expect applicants to demonstrate about the chosen site?

Applicants are expected to make a compelling case for the site's national historical and cultural importance, identify the specific resources available for serious study (such as archives, collections, landscapes, buildings, exhibits, and staff expertise), and explain how the location will materially strengthen the workshop experience in ways that cannot be replicated in a typical classroom.

What is the award amount (maximum) for this grant?

The award ceiling is $180,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What type of grant program is this?

This is a discretionary grant program in the humanities under CFDA 45.163, titled "Promotion of the Humanities - Professional Development."

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and other nonprofits (excluding higher education institutions in that category), public and private institutions of higher education, state/county/city/township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized tribal governments.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. The information provided indicates this cycle is archived. The opportunity was posted on November 26, 2014, and the application deadline for that cycle was February 24, 2015.

Where can applicants find official guidelines and application materials?

NEH directs applicants to its program page for official details, guidelines, and application materials: http://www.neh.gov/grants/education/landmarks american history and culture workshops school teachers

Who can be contacted for help with this program?

NEH provides a contact at the Division of Education Programs for assistance: landmarks@neh.gov or 202-606-8380.