Looking into the past was never easier than it is today. Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and others have made our lives virtually unrecognizable from what they were a mere ten years ago. So with a search engine for everything from sports to dating, is there something for the history student?

The short answer is: yes. The long answer is: there are tools for you in the below 75 essential search engines for history students, along with those for younger students, educational search engines, image search, and much more.

Essential Educational Search Engines for History Students

These search engines are a must utilize for any student, including history.

1. Google Scholar : With a beta version, this search engine takes everything you love about Google and applies it to educational search engines. You can also get patents, legal opinions, and journals. Advanced preferences are also available.

2. JSTOR : This non-profit helps scholars and students by offering an archive of over 100,000 academic journals and other scholarly content. It is also available in many languages.

3. Library of Congress : Use the search engine of this massive site to search the huge digital collections. Along with history, you can get many other scholarly resources.

4. iSeek : This search engine is targeted towards students, teachers, administrators, and caregivers. Use it to search hundreds of thousands of trusted resources from universities, government, and established noncommercial providers.

5. Academic Info : This is an online education resource center with extensive subject guides, video courses, and distance learning information. Their mission is to provide free, independent, and accurate information and resources for prospective and current students as well as other researchers.

6. Education World : Over 100,000 entries are listed specifically for students and educators. There are also tons of other resources on the site.

7. Infomine : Stop here for a scholarly internet resource collection. Search by author, subject, title, and more. You can also choose by government specialty.

8. EduHound : Get both resources and lesson plans here. They also offer useful links to other sites of interest.

Essential Search Engines for Younger History Students

These search engines were made with the younger history student in mind.

9. CyberSleuth Kids : With a special option to search for history, along with a variety of other subjects, this search engine stands out. They also offer over 85,000 pieces of clipart.

10. KidsClick : Visit here for a search engine for kids maintained by librarians. Choose from history, biography, and many other topics.

11. Yahoo! Kids : With loads of games, music, and movies, only the serious history student should visit here to not get distracted. Stick with the Studyzone for all of your needs and enjoy the rest when done.

12. Ask Kids : Another site for kids’ education from a larger site, Ask Kids has a schoolhouse for all your history search needs. You can also search by movies, games, video, and images.

13. Think Quest : This virtual library is provided to students of all ages by Oracle. Get thousands of entries on multiple subjects including history and lesser searched such as business and sports.

14. Awesome Library : Similar to the above, this online library contains over 37,000 resources on all kinds of educational topics. They also include the top five percent in education.

15. SuperKids : Stop here for an online directory of sites that are safe for kids. The usual educational options are featured, along with items just for boys, girls, and interest.

Essential Encyclopedias for History Students

Use these online editions of encyclopedias to make the most out of your papers, studies, etc.

16. Encyclopedia Britannica : With special sections for history and society, this is a must visit. They also offer a blog, along with many other tools.

17. Encyclopedia.com : Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries online with this site. Choose from specific research categories, or do a simple search.

18. Infoplease : Get an encyclopedia, almanac, atlas, dictionary, and more on one spot. Students can also choose history & government to get topics just for them.

19. Free Dictionary : In addition to the dictionary and thesaurus, the site also provides a free encyclopedia. Choose from popular articles, or type in your own search.

20. About.com : This site features over 750 experts in various fields. You can browse by channels, such as education, or topics, such as African American history.

21. Bartleby.com : Why go to the library to get a book when Bartleby already has many volumes on history? Choose from searches on references, verses, fiction, and nonfiction.

22. Wikipedia : The world’s largest user made encyclopedia, this is to use more to point you in the right direction rather than use as a reference. However, with tons of entries on every topic imaginable and available in a variety of languages, it can be a useful tool.

23. World Book : If you feel like opening your wallet to help in your history studies, stop here. World Book offers online versions of the reference in a monthly, yearly, or three day subscription.

24. Kids Encyclopedia : The leading Encyclopedia Britannica also has a version just for kids. Use the search engine, get a seven day trial, or take advantage of the free resources.

Essential Specific Encyclopedias for History Students

These online encyclopedias focus on a specific area of history.

25. Cyberpedia : This is an impressive tool offered by History Link. Over 1,300 entries cover a variety of history topics. You can also search the five different collections.

26. Encyclopedia Smithsonian : Get an impressive resource for American history here. Search over 2 million records with images, videos, and sound files.

27. Bible History : The ISBE is an exhaustive Biblical encyclopedia that explains in detail every significant word in the Bible and also includes historical information from the Apocrypha. It provides detailed information on the language and literature of the Bible world, their cultures and the historical and religious environments of the people of the Bible in articles by nearly 200 scholars.

28. EH.net : The EH.Net Encyclopedia of Economic and Business History is designed to provide students and laymen with high quality reference articles in the field. Articles for the online encyclopedia are written by experts, screened by a group of authorities, and carefully edited.

29. Encyclopedia of World Biography : Get an Aa through We-Z online encyclopedia of famous people here. There are also supplemental articles and updates.

30. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy : If your history studies involve philosophy, this is the encyclopedia for you. Get information on everyone from Peter Abelard to Zeno of Elea.

31. Encyclopedia of Women’s History : Provided by About.com, this is an impressive online encyclopedia. It is provided by expert Jone Johnson Lewis, your guide to women’s history.

32.  Spartacus Educational : The world of British history is featured on this site. Choose from Winston Churchill, famous crimes, or utilize the search engine.

33. Kentucky African American Encyclopedia : From the Big Sandy to the Mississippi, the editors have revived the significant contributions and lives of African Americans in this period of history. Choose from many entries, or contribute your own.

34. Encyclopedia of Chicago : If looking for the history of Chicago, visit here. Special features include digital interpretive essays, maps, galleries, and indices.

Essential Search Engines for History Students

These search engine focus exclusively on history.

35. Hyper History : Recommended by both the History Channel and Discovery Channel, this search engine is a must visit. Choose from people, history, events, and much more.

36. History Buff : This non-profit organization has loads of resources for those needing a history search engine. Do a traditional search or utilize the archives.

37. History Channel : This is a must visit for any history student. In addition to the ability to search, you can also get amazing features, videos, and more.

38. BBC History : The British Broadcasting Company is famous for many things, including its history offerings. Along with the ability to search, you can also get clips from historical television shows and radio programs.

39. Military Channel : Because so much of history is wrapped up in the military, click here. You can get the best of both the past and future.

40. Discovery Channel : A leading learning network, there are also searches available for history students. The features on everything from the tomb of Jesus to D-Day are also impressive.

41. PBS : Similar to the above, this site contains more features than search engines but is still a valuable tool. They also have two ongoing series devoted to history.

42. Center for History and New Media : Both history students and teachers can utilize their search engine to get valuable information. The research and tools page also offers much more.

43. History World : More than 1,000,000 words on world history in linked narratives are found here. You can also get timelines and a quiz.

44. History Guide : This site provides visitors with recommended sites on particular aspects of history. They include the option to browse by topic, region, time period, and more.

45. Civil War Search : If you are a history student of the American Civil War, stop here. The CSE brings the power of Google Search to this directory while still keeping the sites selected as the primary results.

Essential Dictionaries for History Students

Use these to help in your history studies.

46. Dictionary.com : Get tons of returns on items searched such as audio, synonyms, origin, and example sentences. The site also has a thesaurus, encyclopedia, and translator.

47. MSN Encarta : A top choice for many students, this online version actually links to entries from the trusted Encarta name. There is also a U.S. and French version available.

48. Your Dictionary : Recognized by leading sits such as Forbes and The Washington Post, YD also has many sub-dictionaries. There are also grammar and reference articles available.

49. Merriam Webster : Visit this site to get audio entries of the word you are looking up. There are also fun tools such as crosswords, podcast, and top ten words.

50. Webster’s Dictionary : This leading desk reference also brings loads to your desktop. Visit often to get the word of the day, hour, and minute.

51. LOGOS : Get a dictionary in several languages here. They include English, Polish, Korean, Russian, and others.

52. Oxford : This site stands out for its ability to ask the experts. You can also get help with words in foreign languages.

53. Old English Dictionary : Have your history studies brought you to a word you don’t recognize? Then stop here to get definitions from the older version of English.

54. Wordsmith : Get more help for your historical words here. There is a word of the day, anagram server, chat, and more.

55. Word Detective : If you still haven’t found what you need, stop here. This blogger actually encourages baffling questions from readers.

Essential Sites for History Students

Go beyond the search engine with the help of these sites for history studies.

56. HistoryNet : Also a magazine of the same name, this site contains many resources for the history student. They include daily history quizzes and facts, forums, and more.

57. History Television : If looking for history from a Canadian perspective, click here. You can watch full episodes of programs or do a search.

58. Institute of Historical Research : The IHR provides online articles, free event advertising, MA/PhD study, training courses, an open-access library, and more. There is also a blog and other resources.

59. History Today : Stop here for another history site from a magazine. You can check out the features, museum, and much more.

60. The History Place : This history site has been up and running since 1996. Choose from many American topics such as the Revolutionary War and presidents.

61. British History Online : This is the digital library containing some of the core printed primary and secondary sources for the medieval and modern history of the British Isles. You can choose by top sources or by region.

62. Colonial Williamsburg : To see how life was in America’s infancy, stop here. There are collections, photos, and even podcasts.

63. American Museum of Natural History : History students of all ages will enjoy this site. Categories include educations, science, and many others.

64. Smithsonian Institute : With museums, exhibitions, and more, it is one of the largest historical sites in the United States. You can even join Ben Stiller for a tour of the museum on video.

Essential Photo Search Engines for History Students

If you need to see history rather than just read about it, check out the below.

65. Life : Famous for its “Year in Pictures," this magazine has been photographing history since the invention of the camera. Choose from the most popular, editor’s picks, or do a search.

66. National Geographic : With a special section for history, you can find loads here. You can also get the latest images, videos, and news.

67. The National Archives : You don’t have to be in Washington, D.C. to get a look at some of the history on this site. There are many online exhibits including documents, elections, and others.

68. Lens : The photojournalism blog of “The New York Times" contains many impressive images. There are showcases, essays, and more.

69. Flickr : Get impressive photos from professionals and amateurs alike here. A quick search for history turns up nearly 2 million results.

70. Time : Another magazine that has been in print for a long time, their photo database is impressive. You can even view past and popular covers.

71. Old Pictures : This search engine delivers just what the title says. The collection includes images from 1850 to 1940.

72. Historical Photographs : Brigham Young University provides these historical photographs for all visitors to view. Several collections contain thousands of images from pioneer days, World War II, and more.

73. Historical Image Collection : This database is maintained by TreasureNet. They include images from the Civil War, American West, and others.

74. Picture History : Have a look at these digital images that contain over 200 years of American history. Utilize the search engine or check out recommended galleries.

75. 15 Incredible Historical Photographs : If you want inspiration without all the searching, visit here. Listverse has gathered 15 historic images and tells you more about each.

No matter what your goals are, you can find just what you are looking for with the help of the above 75 essential search engines for history students. They are useful for expert opinions, journals, articles, everyday use, and amazing photographs.