19 Photos That Show What Being a Boy Scout Looked Like Across the Decades
From knot-tying lessons to campfire cookouts, scouting wasn’t just about earning merit badges; it was about adventure, team work, and bravery. Whether conducting flag ceremonies or roasting s’mores beneath the stars, being part of the Boy Scouts meant sharing a camaraderie that could only be forged in the wild. These 20 vintage photos capture the spirit of early Boy Scouts, complete with patched uniforms, makeshift tents, and proud smiles earned through mastering the great outdoors.
1. ‘My Grandpa After Receiving His Eagle Scout (Mid-1940’s). He Passed Away Two Years Ago and Left Me His Merit Badge Sash Complete With Eagle Pin and Patch.’
2. ‘My Dad and Uncle, Boy Scout Camp, Late 1960’s’
3. ‘My Dad Returning Home From Boy Scout Camp, Mid-’60s’
4. Boy Scouts Walk Through the Main and Church Street Intersections at the Memorial Day Parade in Pine Plains, New York, on May 30, 1952
5. A Collection of Vintage Boy Scouts of America Patches From the ’80s and ’90s
6. A Cancelled Stamp From 1950 Featuring the Boy Scouts of America
7. Hawaiian Boy Scouts Pictured Decorating the Graves of War Heroes in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950
8. ‘A Photo of My Grandpa’s Boy Scout Troop From 1918 and 1919’
9. A Well-Kept Booklet of the Boy Scout Oath, 1918
10. Uber Vintage Boy Scout Photo From World War I
11. A Large Group of Scouts Get Ready for a Day of Field Sports in Washington, D.C., 1914
12. ‘Winners of a Boy Scout Competition Proudly Show Off Their Winning Projects, October 29, 1924’
13. Boy Scouts in the Philippines, April 1983
14. Two Venezuelan Boy Scouts, Rafael Angel Petit (left) and Juan Carmona, Examine Their Boots After Walking 25 Miles a Day for Two Years to Attend the Boy Scout Jamboree in Washington D.C., 1937
15. Boy Scouts in Pennsylvania Enjoy a Bit of Playtime, July 1913
16. Boy Scouts Visit a Post Office to Mail Letters Home, Washington, D.C., Circa 1913
17. Boy Scouts, Some Donning Native American Clothing, Pictured in San Francisco, California, 1928
18. Colorized Photo of Boy Scouts In Front of the U.S. Capitol Promoting the ‘United Nations Fight for Freedom’ in Washington D.C., 1943
19. A Group of Scouts Pictured at Camp Roosevelt on July 9, 1925
Looking for more vintage photos?
Don’t skip 10 Captivating Photos of America’s Gold Rush and These 30 Vintage Photos Show What Life Was Actually Like in 1955. You should also check out 10 Pieces of Vintage Boy Scout Memorabilia That Could Put Money in Your Pocket.