National Scouting Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Scouting Museum |
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| Location | 17 Deer Run Road Cimarron, New Mexico |
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| Coordinates | 36°27′19″N 104°57′21″W / 36.455333°N 104.955703°W | ||
| Founded | 1959 | ||
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The National Scouting Museum is the official museum for Scouting America. It's a special place where you can learn all about the history of Scouting. The museum has many exhibits and a huge collection of items related to Scouting.
Contents
Museum History: Where It All Began
The National Scouting Museum first opened its doors in 1959. It was located in North Brunswick, New Jersey. Back then, it was known as the Johnston Memorial Museum.
Moving to Texas and Kentucky
In 1979, the museum closed when the Scouting America National Headquarters moved. It reopened in 1986 on the campus of Murray State University in Kentucky. Officials hoped many people would visit, but attendance was lower than expected.
In October 2002, the museum moved again. This time, it went to Irving, Texas. It was right across from the Scouting America National Headquarters.
Finding a Permanent Home at Philmont
The Irving museum closed on September 4, 2017. It was getting ready for its big move to Philmont Scout Ranch. On May 29, 2018, the museum officially reopened at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. A grand opening celebration took place on September 15, 2018.
Exploring the Museum: What You Can See
The National Scouting Museum has five main areas, called galleries. Each gallery shows a different part of Scouting's amazing story.
Scouting Heritage Gallery: The Heart of Scouting
The Smart Family Foundation Scouting Heritage Gallery teaches about the goals and methods of Scouting. It covers the history of Scouting America. You can see displays about earning badges, like the very first Eagle Scout award. There are also exhibits on uniforms, how adults help in Scouting, and the patrol method.
Other exhibits in this gallery include:
- Cub Scouts
- Scouting for people with disabilities
- Honor Medals
- International Scouting
- National and World Jamborees
The Founders' Corner honors the people who helped start the Boy Scouts of America. These include Robert Baden-Powell, Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel Carter Beard, William D. Boyce, and James E. West. There's also a special exhibit for William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt.
Order of the Arrow Gallery: A Look at Honor Society
The Ingram Order of the Arrow gallery is all about the history of the Order of the Arrow. This is Scouting's national honor society.
Philmont Gallery: Adventures in New Mexico
The Philmont Gallery shares the history of Philmont Scout Ranch. It also covers the Philmont Training Center and the Philmont Staff Association. You can even see a 3D map of the ranch!
Santa Fe Trail Gallery: History of the Southwest
The Santa Fe Trail gallery explores the history of Northeast New Mexico. It includes Colfax County and the famous Santa Fe Trail. Displays show what life was like with mining, logging, and railroads. You can also see an old Santa Fe Trail stage wagon.
Ernest Thompson Seton Gallery: Nature and Art
The Ernest Thompson Seton gallery features items from his collections. These include Native American artifacts and natural history items. You can also see artwork created by Ernest Thompson Seton himself.
Main Lobby: NASA, Antarctica, and Art
The museum's main lobby has smaller exhibits. One shows the connection between NASA and Scouting. Another display is about Scouts who went to Antarctica. You can also see cool artwork, like a 1914 Boy Scout advertising billboard. There's a bronze plaque of the Scout Oath and Law, and a bronze statue called The Ideal Scout. This statue was made by R. Tait McKenzie.
The museum is home to over 600,000 items. These artifacts tell the story of Scouting America, Philmont Scout Ranch, and the Southwest region.
Seton Memorial Library: A Treasure Trove of Books
Inside the National Scouting Museum, you'll find the Seton Memorial Library. This library holds the personal book collection of Ernest Thompson Seton. He was one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America.
This research library has many books about western history and the local area. Besides the books, the library has a large reading room. There's also a special room for visiting scholars and an archive.
The museum also keeps Seton's art, anthropology, and natural history collections. These were given to the former Philmont Museum in 1967. That museum later joined with the National Scouting Museum in 2018. Many items from Seton's collections are on display in the library and the Seton Gallery.
Other Museum Features
The National Scouting Museum has an 88-person conference room. It's called the Carl & Janice Marchetti Order of the Arrow Conference Room. There's also a large gift shop. Here you can buy books, artwork, Southwestern jewelry, and souvenirs.
The National Scouting Museum is one of three museums managed by Philmont. The other two are the Villa Philmonte and the Kit Carson Museum at Rayado, New Mexico.
See also
- Girl Scout Museum and Archives
