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 a special place where you can learn all about the Boy Scouts of America. It's like a giant treasure chest filled with the history of Scouting! This museum is the official museum for the Boy Scouts.
Contents
The Museum's Story: Where It's Been
The museum first opened its doors in 1959. It was called the Johnston Memorial Museum back then. It was located in North Brunswick, New Jersey. When the main office of the Boy Scouts of America National Headquarters moved to Texas, the museum closed in 1979.
In 1986, the museum reopened in Kentucky. It was on the campus of Murray State University. People hoped many visitors would come. But fewer people visited than expected.
The museum moved again in 2002. This time, it went to Irving, Texas. It was right across from the Boy Scouts of America National Headquarters. This location closed on September 4, 2017. It was getting ready for another big move.
On May 29, 2018, the museum opened at its new home. It is now at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. A grand opening celebration happened on September 15, 2018.
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The National Scouting Museum has two large rooms filled with amazing exhibits.
Exhibit Hall A: The History of Scouting
This hall shows the long history of the Boy Scouts of America. You can see old camping gear and uniforms. There are also many different merit badges. You can learn about the Order of the Arrow. This is a special honor society in Scouting.
You'll also find out about the very first Eagle Scout award. There are displays about Scout Jamborees. These are huge gatherings of Scouts. You can also learn about famous Scouts. The museum honors the founders of the BSA. These include Robert Baden-Powell and Ernest Thompson Seton. Other founders are Daniel Carter Beard, William D. Boyce, and James E. West.
Exhibit Hall B: Philmont and the Southwest
This hall focuses on the history of Philmont Scout Ranch. It also teaches about the American Southwest. You can see a cool 3D map of the ranch. There are displays of old weapons and firearms. You can even see an historic Santa Fe Trail stage wagon.
The hall also shows Native American pottery and baskets. You can see artwork by Ernest Thompson Seton. This section also covers local industries. These include lumber, mining, railroads, and ranching.
Lobby Displays: Space and Art
The museum's main entrance area has smaller exhibits. One shows Scouting in outer space and Antarctica. You can also see interesting artwork. This includes a 1914 Boy Scout advertising billboard. There is a bronze plaque with the Scout Oath and Law. A bronze statue called The Ideal Scout by R. Tait McKenzie is also there.
The museum holds over 600,000 items. These artifacts tell the story of the Boy Scouts of America. They also share the history of Philmont Scout Ranch and the Southwest.
Seton Memorial Library: A Special Collection
Inside the National Scouting Museum is 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. They are about western history and the local area.
Besides books, the library has a large reading room. There is also a room for visiting researchers. An archive stores important documents. The museum also keeps Seton's art and natural history collections. Many items from these collections are on display. You can see them in the library and in Exhibit Hall B.
Other Museum Facilities
The National Scouting Museum has a conference room. It is called the Carl & Janice Marchetti Order of the Arrow Conference Room. It can hold 88 people. There is also a large gift shop. You can buy books, artwork, and Southwestern jewelry there.
The National Scouting Museum is one of four museums. All are managed by Philmont's Museum Department. The other three museums are the Villa Philmonte, the Kit Carson Museum at Rayado, New Mexico, and the Chase Ranch.
