About The Museum
Overview:
The World of Scouting Museum houses one of the finest and largest
collections of Scouting memorabilia in the entire country. It
was incorporated in 1994 and opened on July 4, 1995. The collection
began with a few purchases of unusual, vintage, out-of-the ordinary
Scouting items beginning about 1970, and as it slowly grew, was
kept in a private home for nearly 25 years. Today, this original
massive collection has been joined by elements from two other
major collectors, and donations from old Scouters and their families,
and continues to grow almost daily. It is now housed in a large
rustic log cabin on the campus of the Washington Memorial Chapel,
within the boundary of the Valley Forge National Historical Park,
at Valley Forge, PA.
Museum's Purpose:
-Collect, preserve and display Girl and Boy Scouting memorabilia
-Share Scouting history and traditions
-Conduct programs which promote Scouting's heritage and values
-Collect and share historical information for researchers
Museum's Collection:
--Rarely seen, one-of-a-kind items are displayed in exhibits which thoroughly chronicle the growth of both Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting movements worldwide.
--The exhibits include scarce uniforms predating World War One,
forgotten items such as the official Boy Scout Plow (used in World
War One "Victory Gardens") or a pre-revolutionary Russian
Scout pin and postcard, letters and photographs hand-signed by
Lady Baden-Powell (for many years Chief of the Girl Guides in
Britain and wife of Boy Scouting's founder, Lord Baden-Powell
of Gilwell), a bugle belonging to one of American Boy Scouting's
founders, Daniel Carter Beard, and original Girl Scout Cookie
containers (Girl Scout Cookie sales originated in Philadelphia).
--The Museum is also well endowed with archival photography, documents,
flags, Scoutcraft equipment, games, posters and art, awards, insignia,
and a diverse range of articles relating to jamborees and international
Scouting. Experts rate the Museum's collection, particularly the
specialty items, as one of the finest in the country.
Choose here for a full discussion of our collections.
Choose here for a link to the Washington Memorial Chapel Website.
