Every year for 50 years some 500,000 middle and high schoolers from across the country

have competed in a contest called National History Day using arts to portray

their research stories.

Jeffrey Brown spent a day with the finalists at the University of Maryland in College Park

to see how this year they defined the very timely turning points in history.

The story is part of our new series

Art in Action exploring the intersection of art and democracy and our ongoing

canvas coverage.

Three hundred and five women and so going canvas

women answered the call.

marching proudly standing tall.

Hello all.

Welcome to the National Human Genome Research Institute.

It was history brought alive through performance such as this one, titled

Turning the Tide of Hatred, the killing of Vincent Chin.

You hurt me and my son.

You're going to pay for this.

Through documentary films.

The doctors made an effort to prevent subjects from improving their condition.

And with eye-catching exhibits on the widest range of topics, including the Birth of Children's

Television Workshop, how the Dust Bowl revolutionized agriculture, the Manhattan Project.

Some 3,000 students from around the country presenting work based on research

...