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Museum Facts

Museum History

Established in 1959, the National Scouting Museum is the official museum of the Boy Scouts of America. The museum is committed to preserving the rich, 94-year history of the scouting movement by collecting, organizing, preserving and displaying some of Scouting's greatest treasures. This collection not only documents Scouting's unique influence on American culture, but also tells the story of a movement that has touched more than 110 million young people.

Locations Through the Years

• In 1959, the Johnston Memorial Museum opened in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
• In 1986, the museum was moved to the grounds of Murray State University in western Kentucky, where it remained for 15 seasons.
• In October 2002, the museum opened adjacent to the Boy Scouts of America's national headquarters in Irving, Texas.

Statistics

• Size: 53,000 square feet—it would take some 3.2 million merit badges to fully cover the museum's floor.
• Number of artifacts: Almost 500,000. The collection includes individual items and artifacts, ranging from oil paintings and uniforms to badges, pins, and letters.
• The oldest artifact: Papers from Scouting fathers Lord Robert S.S. Baden-Powell, James E. West, and Ernest Thompson Seton. The museum houses the first Eagle Scout badge awarded, but it is too fragile to display for long periods of time.
• The largest artifact: A red convertible Geo Storm MTV pace car that was built by an Explorer post sponsored by General Motors.
• The natural settings in the museum: The museum features full-size replicas of campsites from 1910, the 1950s, and today.
• Number of artworks in the gallery: Each season 40 or more works of art by various artists, including Norman Rockwell and Joseph Csatari are displayed. The collection is enhanced by a central display whose theme changes quarterly.
• Number of Norman Rockwell paintings: The museum boasts the largest collection of Norman Rockwell Scout paintings under one roof. The collection includes the first Scout painting he created in 1918 as an illustrator for Boys' Life magazine and 43 of the calendar covers featuring the themes and values of the BSA. All told, the museum has 61 original works of art from the famed American illustrator.

Exhibits

The museum is not limited to static displays. In fact, the museum aims to engage visitors during their tour. Visitors will experience the following as they journey through the 13 uniquely themed areas of the museum:

• See and hear an animatronic Lord Robert S. S. Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, tell the story of the BSA in a 180-degree audiovisual theater.
• Climb a mountain, kayak a river, and ride mountain bikes while participating in a mountain rescue adventure.
• Race derby cars on a six-lane pinewood derby track.
• Test your skill in our shooting safety gallery.
• View a historical collection including artifacts and art that present the story, ideals, and fun of Scouting. The unique collection documents Scouting's influence on American culture and tells the story of a movement that has touched more than 110 million young people.

For more information, see the Exhibits section of this Web site.

National Youth and Family Research Center

In support of the BSA's mission and vision of serving youth and families in every community in America, the National Youth and Family Research Center has been established and will be housed in the National Scouting Museum. The center will conduct primary and secondary research projects to support the understanding and promotion of healthy youth and family development. It will also allow for a comprehensive, scholarly study of the entire Scouting movement and its role in social issues affecting youth.

Some of the goals and objectives of the research center will include the following, especially as they impact young people, families, and peer support groups:

• Program outcomes for youth and families
• Youth attitudes, awareness, and impact of social issues
• Trends in social systems and environmental surroundings
• Analysis of issues and census data to improve "targeted" service
• Demographic and lifestyle analysis of youth, families, and extended families
• National benchmarks for youth service, programs, and institutional effectiveness

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