IRVING, Texas, August 2002—Check your compass and map coordinates because the official museum of the Boy Scouts of America has moved from western Kentucky to the Lone Star State.

The National Scouting Museum and Youth and Family Research Center are set to open this fall adjacent to the BSA's national headquarters in Irving, Texas, giving countless residents and visitors the opportunity to share in Scouting's rich past. Established in 1959, the museum was originally located in North Brunswick, New Jersey. Twenty-seven years later, the museum was moved to the campus of Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, where it remained until last year.

The BSA is working with Southwest Museum Services of Houston on the layout and design for the 50,000-square-foot facility. The state-of-the-art museum will feature more than just Scouting artifacts and memorabilia; it will feature storytelling, virtual-reality adventures, and hands-on learning experiences staged in elaborate natural backdrops.

"Since the National Scouting Museum is centrally located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, it is our hope that residents and visitors alike will take the opportunity to scout out this unique attraction," said Susan B. Hardin, museum director. "The museum is not just something you do; it's something you experience!"

The National Scouting Museum is an enjoyable, educational, and interactive journey through the rich, 92-year history of the Boy Scouts of America. Prepare to travel through time and retrace the history and heritage of the Scouting movement from its service-oriented beginnings in England to its arrival in the United States and its growth as a national movement.

Since its creation more than 40 years ago, the museum has collected, organized, preserved, and displayed some of Scouting's greatest treasures. Today, the museum houses more than half a million individual items and artifacts—from paintings and uniforms to badges, pins, and letters.

Prepare to be engaged as you journey through the museum's 13 uniquely themed areas, which tell the story of a movement that has touched more than 110 million people. Visit full-size replicas of campsites from 1910, the 1950s, and today; race pinewood derby cars; participate in a virtual-reality rescue; explore a stockade-style fort; and listen to animated storytelling as you experience firsthand the adventures of Scouting.

The museum also boasts the largest collection of Norman Rockwell Scout paintings anywhere. The collection includes the first Scout painting he created in 1918 as an illustrator for Boys' Life magazine to his last work, created in 1976. Each season 40 or more works by various artists, including Norman Rockwell, Joseph Csatari, and Remington Schuyler, will be displayed in the museum's art gallery.

The museum will also house the Boy Scouts of America's new Youth and Family Research Center. Separate from museum operations, the research center will support the Scouting movement's mission of serving youth and families in every community in America by conducting 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.

The National Scouting Museum is guaranteed to provide an enjoyable experience for youth and adults alike. Walking tours are open to the general public, Scouting units, and school groups.

Mark your calendars now for fall 2002 to begin visiting the National Scouting Museum. Grand opening activities are slated for October 19.

For admission prices, hours of operation, and directions, visit www.bsamuseum.org or call 800-303-3047.

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