diff --git a/static/css/pad.css b/static/css/pad.css
index 7839ff43..df68985c 100644
--- a/static/css/pad.css
+++ b/static/css/pad.css
@@ -1086,3 +1086,11 @@ width:27px !important;
   opacity:0.01;
   display:none;
 }
+
+#showhistorylabel{
+  position:absolute;
+  left:58px;
+  top:4px;
+  cursor: hand;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
diff --git a/static/js/chat.js b/static/js/chat.js
index f617bdb3..9039d9d9 100644
--- a/static/js/chat.js
+++ b/static/js/chat.js
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ var chat = (function()
         });
       });
     },
+    showHistory: function()
+    {
+      // this is a placeholder for the showHistory function
+      // load the messages from the server
+      // append them to the UI using addMessage
+      self.scrollDown(); // scroll down to the bottom of the chat
+    },
     hide: function () 
     {
       $("#chatcounter").text("0");
diff --git a/static/pad.html b/static/pad.html
index 01a095d7..6e1f75b8 100644
--- a/static/pad.html
+++ b/static/pad.html
@@ -249,14 +249,17 @@ Use this link to share a read-only version of your pad:<input id="readonlyInput"
 <div id="chaticon">
 <a onClick="chat.show();return false;"
 	title="Open the chat for this pad">
-	  <span id="chatlabel">Chat</span>
+	  <span id="chatlabel">Chat</span> 
           <div class="buttonicon" style="background-position:0px -102px;display:inline-block;"></div>
 </a>
 <span id="chatcounter">0</span>
 </div>
 
 <div id="chatbox">
-  <div id="titlebar"><span id ="titlelabel">Chat</span><a id="titlecross" onClick="chat.hide();return false;">-&nbsp;</a></div>
+  <div id="titlebar"><span id="titlelabel">Chat |</span>
+    <a id="showhistorylabel" onClick="chat.showHistory();return false;">Show History</a>
+    <a id="titlecross" onClick="chat.hide();return false;">-&nbsp;</a>
+  </div>
   <div id="chattext" class="authorColors"></div>
   <div id="chatinputbox">
     <form>