Ever wonder what happens to a veteran RV after a cross-country adventure? This incredible Boy Scout motor home, full of history and dents, is finding its final home in a museum! What stories do you think its walls could tell from a century of values on the road?

A significant piece of scouting history, a 32-foot Boy Scout motor home that has traversed the entirety of America, is slated to become a prominent exhibit at the World Scouting Museum in Charleston, West Virginia. This transition marks the conclusion of its extensive cross-country travels and the commencement of a new chapter as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Boy Scouts of America.

Before its permanent installation, the iconic recreational vehicle made a memorable stop at the state fair in Novi, Michigan, offering a glimpse into its storied past. Adorned with various scouting logos, images, and inspiring words, the RV itself serves as a mobile chronicle of the organization’s commitment to youth programs and their foundational values, now finding its permanent home in West Virginia.

The ambitious “A Century of Values” road trip, undertaken in 2009 in anticipation of the Boy Scouts’ centennial, was the brainchild of Frank Mallon. The now 82-year-old retired Army lieutenant colonel and dedicated scouting professional meticulously orchestrated the year-long journey.

During its remarkable odyssey, the motor home ventured from district to district, connecting with countless scouts across the nation. Bearing the marks of its extensive travels—a few dents and dings—these minor mishaps are more than imperfections; they are tangible memories etched into the vehicle, symbolizing a mission to promote scouting history and its far-reaching impact.

Currently, efforts are underway to secure approximately $10,000 in donations to fully refurbish this invaluable artifact before its official induction into the museum. Once restored, the RV is envisioned to serve not only as a static museum exhibit but also as a roving mini-museum, designed to travel to schools and communities, especially in rural West Virginia, to actively promote scouting and its timeless values to new generations.

Over its 115-year history, the Boy Scouts of America has undergone significant transformations, notably allowing girls to join and adopting a new name. However, Frank Mallon emphasizes that the core service-oriented mission and the crucial values it instills remain steadfast, continuing to shape young lives through robust youth programs.

The World Scouting Museum itself is a colossal 7,000-square-foot institution, proudly boasting the largest collection of scouting memorabilia globally, with more than 200,000 artifacts from over 150 countries. Its strategic location near the Summit Bechtel Reserve, a 10,000-acre scouting training and adventure center, further enhances its significance as a hub for scouting history and museum exhibits.

It is particularly fitting that this Michigan-originated exhibit will reside in West Virginia, connecting with the legacy of famous scout Gerald Ford, who hailed from Michigan. For Mallon, the realization that the RV will be preserved and cared for at the World Scouting Museum provides immense reassurance, even as he anticipates an emotional farewell to a vehicle that embodied so much of his life’s work and scouting history.

The “Back on the Road Again 2025” project is actively seeking further donations, aiming to raise $25,000 to complete the refurbishment of this historic RV. This initiative ensures that a unique piece of American and scouting heritage will continue to inspire for years to come.