National Scouting Museum

If you have the slightest bit of interest in the Boy Scouts, this place is awesome.
First, be sure to use your Unilocal check-​in offer. The $ 8 admission won’t kill you, but $ 5 admission is even better.
The first part of the museum is dedicated to Boy Scout related art, predominantly paintings painted by Norman Rockwell. The paintings were lovely, most of the Rockwells having been used in magazine covers or calendars.
Be careful not to point too closely at the paintings, though. They have motion sensors set perhaps 8 or 10 inches in front of the paintings. If you point at the painting any closer than 8 – 10 inches, perhaps to point out Rockwell’s exquisite use of lighting, alarms blare. My sister found out the hard way…
The second section of the museum covered the historical evolution of the scouts, including the evolution of their uniforms. Did you know there used to be Air Scouts and Sea Scouts? Neither did I, but I learned about them and saw their uniforms. Coolness.
Interspersed with the historical displays are hands on interactive activities that keep kids (and adults) entertained. You can race pinewood derby cars. With your admission, you also get a token for the shooting range. Each token gives you 25 shots of laser light to shoot at various targets. Additional tokens are 5 for $ 1. There is also a «boy scout camp playground,» for lack of a better descriptor. Younger kids can run around, climb in a tent, climb in a boat, and generally burn off some energy.
Don’t forget the scout store on your way out!

As an Eagle Scout, I just had to come to the National Scouting Museum. They do a good job of balancing the history and feel of the Boy Scouts by combining exhibits with interactive displays and activities. The museum is located in suburban Dallas near the DFW airport in a office park, but look for the trefoil and scout statue outside the main entrance.
The museum holds an impressive collection of Norman Rockwell scouting art and other artists who have produced iconic images of scouting over the years. The rest of the museum balances history and present scouting across the United States with several exhibits showing a shooting range, pinewood derby track, canoeing area, and other activities for the boy in all of us.
This is also a good place to stock up on scouting gear and memorabilia. Who knew that you can just buy an Eagle Scout patch for $ 2.99? Much easier than earning it, right? It is a little out of the way and really focused on boys not girls, so some families may not appreciate the focus. Any scouts will enjoy the museum and bringing back memories of a fun youth is well worth the price of admission.

I was never a scout but going to this museum sure made me wish that I was!!!
Lots of fun interactive things to do for grown-​ups and kids!
Practice your riflerey with a digital range! Race your favorite pinewood derby car on the track! Explore the caves! Camp out in the tents!

Oh, and I have to say that the store was so incredibly HOT for no discernible reason especially on the 3^rd floor.

A boys paradise at a great price! Thanks to the friendly docent, Jim, we made a beeline for the pinewood derby cars. I think the boys could race cars for hours! Looking forward to testing our aim at the shooting gallery. You get a token for the shooting gallery upon admission, and can buy more tokens if one token isn’t enough. Great place to take scouts and would-​be scouts!

Great outing with your scout! The staff and volunteers are always helpful. The museum is fantastic. Don’t forget to bring your derby cars. They have a track setup to use

I felt like I was visiting Mecca. The displays were fantastic, rich, and I could spend a LOT of time in here. The only problem is that there are a bunch of geezer docents with nothing to do. So, the follow you like shadows and have to tell you their war stories about every item. I just wanted to be left alone to enjoy it myself. I was in a «me mood» and didn’t need a personal history and how it related to the docent. Can you visit the exhibits without them? I hadn’t been hovered that closely since I went clothes shopping in Beijing. Great info, great exhibits, cool interaction. Would love to do it at my speed.

Went here in late 2009: was bored on a business trip. Very mixed feelings about the place: I was a Cub Scout when I was younger; drifted away from scouting as I moved around in my youth. One thing that always struck me about my visit was the subtle change in the history: how scouting started out encouraging group participation; became more nationalistic for a time; then drifted towards more individualism + church influence. So in that it got me to think about my stint in scouting; it was successful.
* More pics I got of the place on my visit

Awesome place. Nicely done. I was a kid in the candy shop at the scout store

Pretty awesome place to learn the history about scouting. I was never a scout as a child but working in the area peaked my interest enough to check out the scout museum. They offer a variety of classes for scouts and also have a pretty nice scout shop that is well stocked.
The Museum does a great job of portraying just how important scouts have been throughout history. They have a pine car derby so you can race against other people without the hassle of actually building the pine car. They also have a shooting area where you shoot some fake guns but its neat to see all that they have.
The museum is free to the public on Sunday & Monday so how can you go wrong. They also have a small theater at the end of the self guided tour that talks about high adventure camps available to older scouts. I thought it was really cool watching these kids experiencing so much at a young age. I can only imagine how much that helps these young men grow into great citizens. I would definitely go back when I had more time.

I took my son here for an outing with his den. He is pack 399 out of Arlington. The Long Horn Council. Er learned so much about Scouts and the history of scouting. I highly recommend going even if you are not a scout.

A great museum located next to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) headquarters in Irving, TX. This is the official museum for the Boy Scouts of America, which opened in 2002. Before that, the Museum was located at Murray State University in Murray, KY, which I had the pleasure of visiting over 15 years ago. Remember Murray The Robot. Check out the website for up to date information, hours, admission, and virtual tour at:
As an Eagle Scout (I received a «Scout’s honor» discount), I really enjoyed my visit here and spent a good three hours visiting the various exhibits relating to the history of scouting and its founder Baden Powell.
Various displays and exhibits include the history theater, Norman Rockwell art gallery (I love VT!), theater, memorabilia, merit badges, Order of the Arrow (OA), large collection of patches, council strips & OA lodge flaps, National Scout Jamborees, high adventure exhibit (Philmont, FL Sea Base), Boys Life magazine, Cub Scouts, Eagle Scouts, values of Scouting, and much more. There are also interactive exhibits and games of skill such as the bike race, fishing simulator and a very fun laser shooting gallery (they will give you tokens at the admission desk).
After you’re done, be sure to check out the Scout Shop which stocks official BSA apparel, books, souvenirs, gifts, patches, crafts, flags, collectibles, and more.
Overall, the National Scouting Museum was very educational and fun and brought back many-​many memories when I was a Boy Scout and Cub Scout. I remember the great times I had at the many camporees, derbys, hiking trips, community service projects, National Jamborees (in Ft. A.P. Hill, VA), Philmont Scout Ranch (NM), and National Order of the Arrow Conferences (NOAC).
I know I’ll definitely be back here again! Once a Scout, always a Scout!