diff --git a/docs/toml-schema.md b/docs/toml-schema.md
index 5916df29d..a55c4168a 100644
--- a/docs/toml-schema.md
+++ b/docs/toml-schema.md
@@ -242,6 +242,10 @@ excluded-people = [
 [[zulip-streams]]
 # The name of the Zulip stream (required)
 name = "t-overlords/private"
+# Whether newly subscribed members can access messages sent before they joined
+# the stream. This is optional. If omitted, the current setting is left
+# unchanged.
+public-history = false
 # This can be set to false to avoid including all the team members in the stream
 # It's useful if you want to create the stream with a different set of members
 # It's optional, and the default is `true`.
@@ -266,6 +270,9 @@ excluded-people = [
 ]
 ```
 
+The `public-history` option corresponds to Zulip's
+[`history_public_to_subscribers` channel setting](https://zulip.com/api/update-stream#parameter-history_public_to_subscribers).
+
 ### Configuring Zulip streams
 
 > [!TIP]
diff --git a/rust_team_data/src/v1.rs b/rust_team_data/src/v1.rs
index 69339bee4..726bd2944 100644
--- a/rust_team_data/src/v1.rs
+++ b/rust_team_data/src/v1.rs
@@ -168,6 +168,8 @@ pub struct ZulipGroups {
 pub struct ZulipStream {
     pub name: String,
     pub members: Vec<ZulipStreamMember>,
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub public_history: Option<bool>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
diff --git a/src/schema.rs b/src/schema.rs
index f15bad48d..746a31707 100644
--- a/src/schema.rs
+++ b/src/schema.rs
@@ -497,17 +497,20 @@ impl Team {
         let zulip_streams = self.raw_zulip_streams();
 
         for raw_stream in zulip_streams {
-            streams.push(ZulipStream(ZulipCommon {
-                name: raw_stream.common.name.clone(),
-                includes_team_members: raw_stream.common.include_team_members,
-                members: self.expand_zulip_membership(
-                    data,
-                    &raw_stream.common,
-                    |excluded| {
-                        format_err!("'{excluded}' was specifically excluded from the Zulip stream '{}' but they were already not included", raw_stream.common.name)
-                    },
-                )?,
-            }));
+            streams.push(ZulipStream {
+                common: ZulipCommon {
+                    name: raw_stream.common.name.clone(),
+                    includes_team_members: raw_stream.common.include_team_members,
+                    members: self.expand_zulip_membership(
+                        data,
+                        &raw_stream.common,
+                        |excluded| {
+                            format_err!("'{excluded}' was specifically excluded from the Zulip stream '{}' but they were already not included", raw_stream.common.name)
+                        },
+                    )?,
+                },
+                public_history: raw_stream.public_history,
+            });
         }
         Ok(streams)
     }
@@ -758,6 +761,8 @@ pub(crate) struct RawZulipGroup {
 pub(crate) struct RawZulipStream {
     #[serde(flatten)]
     pub(crate) common: RawZulipCommon,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub(crate) public_history: Option<bool>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -809,12 +814,21 @@ impl std::ops::Deref for ZulipGroup {
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub(crate) struct ZulipStream(ZulipCommon);
+pub(crate) struct ZulipStream {
+    common: ZulipCommon,
+    public_history: Option<bool>,
+}
+
+impl ZulipStream {
+    pub(crate) fn public_history(&self) -> Option<bool> {
+        self.public_history
+    }
+}
 
 impl std::ops::Deref for ZulipStream {
     type Target = ZulipCommon;
     fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
-        &self.0
+        &self.common
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/static_api.rs b/src/static_api.rs
index 5ece47a91..f17cb5b78 100644
--- a/src/static_api.rs
+++ b/src/static_api.rs
@@ -345,6 +345,7 @@ impl<'a> Generator<'a> {
                             ZulipMember::MemberWithoutId { .. } => None,
                         })
                         .collect(),
+                    public_history: stream.public_history(),
                 },
             );
         }
diff --git a/src/sync/zulip/api.rs b/src/sync/zulip/api.rs
index 064bbb969..98bf64f58 100644
--- a/src/sync/zulip/api.rs
+++ b/src/sync/zulip/api.rs
@@ -265,6 +265,38 @@ impl ZulipApi {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    /// Set whether a Zulip stream's history is public to new subscribers.
+    ///
+    /// See <https://zulip.com/api/update-stream#parameter-history_public_to_subscribers>.
+    pub(crate) async fn update_stream_public_history(
+        &self,
+        stream_id: u64,
+        public_history: bool,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        log::info!("updating stream {stream_id} to public_history={public_history}");
+
+        if self.dry_run {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+
+        let history_public_to_subscribers = public_history.to_string();
+        let mut form = HashMap::new();
+        form.insert(
+            "history_public_to_subscribers",
+            history_public_to_subscribers.as_str(),
+        );
+
+        self.req(
+            reqwest::Method::PATCH,
+            &format!("/streams/{stream_id}"),
+            Some(form),
+        )
+        .await?
+        .error_for_status()?;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     /// Perform a request against the Zulip API
     async fn req(
         &self,
@@ -330,6 +362,7 @@ pub(crate) struct ZulipStream {
     pub(crate) stream_id: u64,
     pub(crate) name: String,
     pub(crate) invite_only: bool,
+    pub(crate) history_public_to_subscribers: bool,
 }
 
 /// Membership of a Zulip stream
diff --git a/src/sync/zulip/mod.rs b/src/sync/zulip/mod.rs
index 22ba10758..c3d116ce1 100644
--- a/src/sync/zulip/mod.rs
+++ b/src/sync/zulip/mod.rs
@@ -11,10 +11,15 @@ use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 
 pub(crate) struct SyncZulip {
     zulip_controller: ZulipController,
-    stream_definitions: BTreeMap<String, Vec<u64>>,
+    stream_definitions: BTreeMap<String, StreamDefinition>,
     user_group_definitions: BTreeMap<String, Vec<u64>>,
 }
 
+struct StreamDefinition {
+    member_ids: Vec<u64>,
+    public_history: Option<bool>,
+}
+
 impl SyncZulip {
     pub(crate) async fn new(
         username: String,
@@ -41,8 +46,8 @@ impl SyncZulip {
 
     pub(crate) async fn diff_all(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Diff> {
         let stream_membership_diffs = futures_util::stream::iter(&self.stream_definitions)
-            .filter_map(|(stream_name, member_ids)| async move {
-                self.diff_stream_membership(stream_name, member_ids)
+            .filter_map(|(stream_name, definition)| async move {
+                self.diff_stream_membership(stream_name, &definition.member_ids)
                     .await
                     .transpose()
             })
@@ -50,6 +55,14 @@ impl SyncZulip {
             .await
             .into_iter()
             .collect::<anyhow::Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
+        let stream_history_diffs = self
+            .stream_definitions
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|(stream_name, definition)| {
+                self.diff_stream_history(stream_name, definition.public_history)
+                    .transpose()
+            })
+            .collect::<anyhow::Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
         let user_group_diffs = self
             .user_group_definitions
             .iter()
@@ -60,10 +73,39 @@ impl SyncZulip {
             .collect::<anyhow::Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
         Ok(Diff {
             user_group_diffs,
+            stream_history_diffs,
             stream_membership_diffs,
         })
     }
 
+    fn diff_stream_history(
+        &self,
+        stream_name: &str,
+        public_history: Option<bool>,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<Option<UpdateStreamHistoryDiff>> {
+        let Some(public_history) = public_history else {
+            return Ok(None);
+        };
+
+        let stream = self
+            .zulip_controller
+            .stream_from_name(stream_name)
+            .with_context(|| format!("no '{stream_name}' stream found on Zulip"))?;
+        if stream.history_public_to_subscribers == public_history {
+            log::debug!(
+                "'{stream_name}' stream ({}) already has public_history={public_history}",
+                stream.stream_id
+            );
+            Ok(None)
+        } else {
+            Ok(Some(UpdateStreamHistoryDiff {
+                stream_name: stream_name.to_owned(),
+                stream_id: stream.stream_id,
+                public_history,
+            }))
+        }
+    }
+
     fn diff_user_group(
         &self,
         user_group_name: &str,
@@ -174,12 +216,12 @@ impl SyncZulip {
 }
 
 async fn add_rust_lang_owner_to_private_streams(
-    stream_definitions: &mut BTreeMap<String, Vec<u64>>,
+    stream_definitions: &mut BTreeMap<String, StreamDefinition>,
     zulip_controller: &ZulipController,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     // Id of the `rust-lang-owner` Zulip user.
     let rust_lang_owner_id = 494485;
-    for (stream_name, members) in stream_definitions {
+    for (stream_name, definition) in stream_definitions {
         let stream_id = zulip_controller
             .stream_id_from_name(stream_name)
             .with_context(|| {
@@ -194,7 +236,7 @@ async fn add_rust_lang_owner_to_private_streams(
             .is_stream_private(stream_id)
             .await?;
         if is_stream_private {
-            members.insert(0, rust_lang_owner_id);
+            definition.member_ids.insert(0, rust_lang_owner_id);
         }
     }
     Ok(())
@@ -202,6 +244,7 @@ async fn add_rust_lang_owner_to_private_streams(
 
 pub(crate) struct Diff {
     user_group_diffs: Vec<UserGroupDiff>,
+    stream_history_diffs: Vec<UpdateStreamHistoryDiff>,
     stream_membership_diffs: Vec<StreamMembershipDiff>,
 }
 
@@ -210,6 +253,9 @@ impl Diff {
         for user_group_diff in &self.user_group_diffs {
             user_group_diff.apply(sync).await?;
         }
+        for stream_history_diff in &self.stream_history_diffs {
+            stream_history_diff.apply(sync).await?;
+        }
         for stream_membership_diff in &self.stream_membership_diffs {
             stream_membership_diff.apply(sync).await?;
         }
@@ -217,7 +263,14 @@ impl Diff {
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
-        self.user_group_diffs.is_empty() && self.stream_membership_diffs.is_empty()
+        let Self {
+            user_group_diffs,
+            stream_history_diffs,
+            stream_membership_diffs,
+        } = self;
+        user_group_diffs.is_empty()
+            && stream_history_diffs.is_empty()
+            && stream_membership_diffs.is_empty()
     }
 }
 
@@ -230,6 +283,13 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for Diff {
             }
         }
 
+        if !&self.stream_history_diffs.is_empty() {
+            writeln!(f, "💻 Stream History Diffs:")?;
+            for stream_history_diff in &self.stream_history_diffs {
+                write!(f, "{stream_history_diff}")?;
+            }
+        }
+
         if !&self.stream_membership_diffs.is_empty() {
             writeln!(f, "💻 Stream Membership Diffs:")?;
             for stream_membership_diff in &self.stream_membership_diffs {
@@ -241,6 +301,30 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for Diff {
     }
 }
 
+struct UpdateStreamHistoryDiff {
+    stream_name: String,
+    stream_id: u64,
+    public_history: bool,
+}
+
+impl UpdateStreamHistoryDiff {
+    async fn apply(&self, sync: &SyncZulip) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        sync.zulip_controller
+            .zulip_api
+            .update_stream_public_history(self.stream_id, self.public_history)
+            .await
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Display for UpdateStreamHistoryDiff {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        writeln!(f, "📝 Updating stream history:")?;
+        writeln!(f, "  Name: {}", self.stream_name)?;
+        writeln!(f, "  ID: {}", self.stream_id)?;
+        writeln!(f, "  Public history: {}", self.public_history)
+    }
+}
+
 enum StreamMembershipDiff {
     Update(UpdateStreamMembershipDiff),
 }
@@ -424,7 +508,7 @@ async fn get_user_group_definitions(
 async fn get_stream_definitions(
     team_api: &TeamApi,
     zulip_api: &ZulipApi,
-) -> anyhow::Result<BTreeMap<String, Vec<u64>>> {
+) -> anyhow::Result<BTreeMap<String, StreamDefinition>> {
     let email_map = zulip_api
         .get_users()
         .await?
@@ -451,7 +535,13 @@ async fn get_stream_definitions(
                     ZulipStreamMember::Id(id) => Some(*id),
                 })
                 .collect::<Vec<_>>();
-            (name, member_ids)
+            (
+                name,
+                StreamDefinition {
+                    member_ids,
+                    public_history: stream.public_history,
+                },
+            )
         })
         .collect();
     Ok(stream_definitions)
@@ -503,6 +593,10 @@ impl ZulipController {
         self.stream_ids.get(stream_name).map(|st| st.stream_id)
     }
 
+    fn stream_from_name(&self, stream_name: &str) -> Option<&ZulipStream> {
+        self.stream_ids.get(stream_name)
+    }
+
     /// Create a user group with a certain name, description, and members
     async fn create_user_group(
         &self,
diff --git a/teams/rust-analyzer.toml b/teams/rust-analyzer.toml
index c1bfd5be4..27830c1e5 100644
--- a/teams/rust-analyzer.toml
+++ b/teams/rust-analyzer.toml
@@ -40,3 +40,4 @@ name = "T-rust-analyzer"
 
 [[zulip-streams]]
 name = "t-compiler/rust-analyzer-private"
+public-history = false
diff --git a/tests/static-api/_expected/v1/zulip-streams.json b/tests/static-api/_expected/v1/zulip-streams.json
index d2a81e0fa..8f5f09266 100644
--- a/tests/static-api/_expected/v1/zulip-streams.json
+++ b/tests/static-api/_expected/v1/zulip-streams.json
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
         {
           "id": 4321
         }
-      ]
+      ],
+      "public_history": false
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/tests/static-api/teams/foo.toml b/tests/static-api/teams/foo.toml
index 9af613b23..90ed67e15 100644
--- a/tests/static-api/teams/foo.toml
+++ b/tests/static-api/teams/foo.toml
@@ -50,3 +50,4 @@ name = "T-foo"
 
 [[zulip-streams]]
 name = "t-foo/private"
+public-history = false