For more than 100 years, Girl Scouts has been making a positive impact in the lives of girls. The Barbara Anderson Girl Scout Museum explores the rich history of both Arizona Girl Scouts and the Girl Scouts organization as a whole.
A former Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) staff member, Barbara Anderson was inspired by the heritage of Girl Scouts. In 1986, she donated her large collection of Girl Scout memorabilia to GSACPC, where she led a small group of volunteers and staff called the Historical Society (currently known as the History Committee) in cataloging and preserving the items. With Barbara’s lifelong commitment to Girl Scouting, her ultimate goal was to open a museum to showcase Girl Scouts’ proud history. As her collection grew over the years, archives went from being stored in a room, a warehouse, and now in the Heritage Center. Finally, in 1999, her goal was achieved. The Barbara Anderson Girl Scout Museum opened at the Girl Scout Council Shop on Third Street and Clarendon in Downtown Phoenix.
To this day, members of the History Committee continue Barbara’s legacy through curating memorabilia and making it accessible to the community. If you want to be part of preserving Girl Scout history, the History Committee meets at the Heritage Center from 9am-2pm on Wednesdays. New volunteers are welcomed.
The museum features a unique exhibit each year. Don’t miss out on this year’s
theme: The Outdoor Girl Scout! Visitors can make an appointment by calling 602-452-7137. Admission is free, see more details here.
The Barbara Anderson Girl Scout Museum is a member of Central Arizona Museum Association, The Arizona Memory Project, and Arizona Women's Heritage Trail.
