Over the last twenty-five years, the Minnesota Historical Society, the University of Minnesota Libraries, and Minitex have developed a partnership centered on creating pathways to higher education by engaging local middle school and high school students in immersive programs at academic libraries. These activities vary in scope and content, but are all tied together by a shared focus on the National History Day (NHD) program, which encourages students to create original research projects about a historical topic. By exploring this partnership and its impact on local schools, this article serves as a blueprint for educators who wish to use history education to expand pathways to higher education for students, particularly those without easy access to a college campus.