News: Exhibit outlines Scouts’ history

News Press
By Lindsay Downey 

07/29/10 

Boy Scout troops from across Southwest Florida are flocking to the Collier County Museum for a glimpse into the history of their organization.

The museum, located in Naples, is extending its Boy Scouts of America Centennial Exhibit for an extra month due to its popularity. The exhibit will run through Aug. 28 before it moves to the Museum of the Everglades in Everglades City.

"We've been hearing a lot of feedback now with the kids who are out of school," said Jennifer Guida, curator of collections for the museum. "We're having a lot more visitation and it seems that through word of mouth, various troops are hearing about it so they're wanting to come in and view it."

The exhibit features Boy Scout uniforms and merit badges from the 1920s and '30s, plus historic information about the organization. It includes a timeline of the life of Barron Collier - who founded Everglades City's first Boy Scout troop in 1923 - plus a bronze bust of Collier and photos of Collier with other prominent scouting supporters of the time, such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Collier's life and ties to Boy Scouts of America is one of the main features of the exhibit.

"It's twofold - it's the centennial exhibit but it also talks heavily about Mr. Collier's involvement with the Scouts," Guida said.

In 1932, Collier received Boy Scouts of America's Silver Buffalo - one of the organization's highest honors - for his contributions to BSA over the course of 25 years.

Museum visitors will also find everything from Calusa Indian artifacts to an archaeology lab and native gardens to explore.

"Most people are surprised that Naples even has a history museum, and then they're pleasantly surprised by the quality of our exhibits and the size of our grounds," Guida said.

The museum has expanded twice since it opened in 1978. Situated on five acres, it now features more than 10,000 square feet of displays in the main gallery. Every Wednesday at 2 p.m., the museum offers free adult programs on Collier County history and at 1 p.m. Saturdays through the end of summer, visitors can enjoy free screenings of movies from the 1930s and '40s.

The museum's sister campuses - Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Robert Ranch, Museum of the Everglades and Naples Train Depot - provide their own insight into Southwest Florida history.

On Aug. 31, the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Exhibit will move to the Museum of the Everglades, where it will be on display through Sept. 30.