Much more than just the name of a state, North Dakota is a landscape, a people, a mindset.
On exhibit starting Feb. 17, the 2026 Teen Takeover contest illustrates these concepts, with teenagers invited to submit an artistic creation interpreting the theme "What will North Dakota look like 250 years in the future?" Their original creations are accompanied by a short essay explaining the work. This exhibit features our finalists.
At the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, we are proud to recognize the contributions that all community members make, including our youth. This is why we created the Teen Takeover exhibit, an annual event where the voices and ideas of our state's teenagers can be showcased.
Want to participate? Submissions are now being accepted for the 2027 competition. We invite North Dakota teens ages 13-18 to submit entries responding to the question: "What is North Dakota's most important contribution to the nation?" Learn more and submit your entry!