The Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum is a privately-owned, not-for-profit organization that was founded to promote and preserve the traditions and history of Scouting. The museum’s collection includes items and exhibits associated with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Eagle Scouts, and Camp Fire. Also featured is a section of the museum dedicated to local history.
Visitors to the museum can enjoy a docent-led tour throughout the building that spans a wide variety of topics. Scouting troops regularly make visits to see the vast history their organization has to offer. Of course, you don’t have to be an expert to learn about the vivid and exciting past of Scouting in the United States! Vintage guidebooks, patches, and other interesting pieces of Scouting history are on display.
A trip to the museum is a great way to learn more about Ottawa too! Have you wondered why a Scouting Museum is in town in the first place? Well, that’s because the founder of the Boy Scouts of America, W.D. Boyce, lived in Ottawa! He is also buried in the Ottawa Avenue Cemetery.
The museum has a variety of exhibits regarding Ottawa history. They even have some glassware belonging to Peltier Glass, the world-renowned glass company. Their collection includes glass canes (that are said to be just as strong as a regular cane!), vintage glass bottles, and marbles. Peltier is the company that developed the world-famous cat’s eye marble design.
In addition to a collection of exhibits that are always being updated and added to, the museum offers informational seminars/presentations. These cover a wide variety of historical subjects that most might not know about. History lovers can enjoy learning all sorts of hidden historical facts at these monthly seminars.
The Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum is open Thursdays through Mondays from 10am to 4pm. You can check out their website for information on their seminars, events, and upcoming exhibits.
