nssm.org

What is the North Star Museum?

The North Star Museum is a museum of Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting in North St. Paul, Minnesota, focused on the history and significance of Scouting across the upper Midwest. Its stated mission is to collect, preserve, share and interpret that history, with collections spanning Girl Scouting, Boy Scouting and Scouting artifacts.

For visitors and Scouting families, the museum pairs exhibits with active programming. It lists merit badge workshops led by registered merit badge counselors, Girl Scout workshops, summer programs, an escape room, and occasional overnight stays (“Spend a Night at the Museum”). It also hosts events such as a 2026 Derby Night at the Museum, and its building can be rented.

Visiting and taking part

• Hours: open Monday through Friday by appointment, and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Appointments: arranged by email or voicemail at the contact details on the museum’s site.
• Workshops: merit badge sessions are held at the museum unless noted otherwise; counselors outline prerequisites in advance and make the final call on whether badge requirements are met.
• Workshop fees: listed as $15 for museum members and $20 for non-members.
• Support: membership levels, volunteering, donations and a wish list are all options.

A practical next step is to decide which audience you are planning for. If you are a Scout working toward a badge, check the workshop calendar first and confirm prerequisites with the counselor before registering. If you are a family or history visitor, a Saturday visit is the simplest option, while weekday visits need an appointment. If you cannot visit in person, the museum’s collections and newsletter pages are the better starting point.

For broader context on Scouting history, official organizations include Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA.

How do I register for a merit badge workshop at the North Star Museum?

Register through the Merit Badge Workshops page on the museum's site, reached from the "Programs & Events" menu. The homepage's "REGISTER NOW!" link points to that workshop page, where registration is handled. The museum offers the workshops throughout the year, with registered merit badge counselors leading sessions.

Before you register

• Check the individual workshop listing for the badge being offered and any prerequisites. The museum says counselors outline prerequisites participants must complete beforehand.
• Plan for the fee: $15 for museum members, $20 for non-members.
• Note that classes are held at the museum unless a listing says otherwise.
• Confirm the counselor is the final authority on whether badge requirements are met, so completing prerequisites ahead of time matters.

A practical registration scenario

A Scout needs a specific badge before a court of honor. A parent checks the workshop page, finds a session for that badge, reviews the prerequisites, and registers. If the family visits the museum regularly, a membership may pay for itself over several workshops, since the member rate is $5 lower per session. The Scout completes the prerequisites before the session, because the counselor decides whether the badge is earned.

Helpful context

Workshops take place at the museum, so pair registration with a visit. The museum is open Monday through Friday by appointment and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For appointment scheduling, the site lists email and a phone voicemail at 651-748-2880. For broader Scouting history in the upper Midwest, the museum also maintains Girl Scouting and Boy Scouting collections and a calendar of events. If you want to compare programming with another Scouting history organization, see Scouting Museum and Boy Scout Museum — though the North Star Museum's own workshop page remains the authoritative place to register.

Next step

Open the Merit Badge Workshops page, choose the badge and date, and register. Then email or call the museum if you have questions about prerequisites before the session.

What are the hours and how do I schedule a visit to the North Star Museum?

The North Star Museum in North St. Paul, Minnesota, is open Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Monday through Friday by appointment only. To book a weekday appointment, email the museum or leave a voicemail at 651-748-2880; the site asks visitors to schedule ahead rather than arrive unannounced.

Practical planning notes

• Saturday is the simplest option if you want to drop in without arranging a time in advance.
• Weekday visits suit groups, researchers, or anyone who needs staff attention, since they require a confirmed appointment.
• The museum is located in North St. Paul, Minnesota, so build in travel time if you are coming from elsewhere in the Twin Cities.

What to combine with your visit

The museum runs more than a walk-through gallery. Its calendar includes merit badge workshops, Girl Scout workshops, summer programs, an escape room, and a "Spend a Night at the Museum" overnight option, plus the 2026 Derby Night at the Museum on Saturday, October 24, 6–9:30 p.m. If you are visiting with a Scout, check the workshop schedule before choosing a date, since a session may be the main reason for the trip. Workshop fees are listed as $15 for museum members and $20 for non-members, with classes generally held at the museum.

Before you go

Confirm current hours and any registration requirements directly, especially for workshops and special events, because these often need advance sign-up. A quick email or call to 651-748-2880 will clarify whether your preferred date is an open Saturday or requires a weekday appointment. For broader context on Scouting history in the region, the museum also points to related organizations such as Boy Scouts of America.

Can I rent the North Star Museum for a private event?

Yes. The North Star Museum lists Building Rental among its services, so private events are part of what the site offers. The museum is in North St. Paul, Minnesota, and its stated mission covers Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting history in the upper Midwest, which shapes the kind of venue you would be renting.

What to expect as a renter

• A small museum setting. This is a specialty collection rather than a large event hall, so plan for a modest guest count and a layout built around exhibits.
• Scouting-themed surroundings. If your group is a troop, pack, alumni association or Scouting family, the setting does much of the atmosphere work for you.
• Regular opening hours as a reference point. The museum is open Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Monday through Friday by appointment, so weekday evenings and Saturdays outside those hours are the likeliest windows for a private booking.
• Other program formats exist. The site also lists an Escape Room, Summer Programs, Merit Badge Workshops, Girl Scout Workshops and Spend a Night at the Museum, any of which could suit a group that does not need a full private rental.

How to move forward

Contact the museum directly to check date availability, capacity, room setup, catering rules and any rental fee. The site gives an email address and a voicemail line at 651-748-2880, and staff can confirm what a rental includes.

Deciding whether it fits

Choose the North Star Museum if your event is tied to Scouting and you want a heritage setting with a story behind it. Look elsewhere if you need a large banquet capacity, extensive kitchen facilities or a neutral ballroom-style space. For a crossover audience, Scouting America and Girl Scouts of the USA publish program context that can help you frame an event around Scouting history.

What membership levels are available at the North Star Museum and what are the benefits?

The North Star Museum's site lists a "Membership Levels" page in its navigation, but the homepage excerpt does not name the tiers or spell out what each one includes. What the page does show is one concrete member benefit: merit badge workshops cost $15 for museum members versus $20 for non-members, so a member saves $5 per workshop.

What is confirmed on the page

• Membership is handled through a "Membership Levels" section of the site.
• Members pay $15 for merit badge workshops; non-members pay $20.
• Membership is presented alongside volunteering, donations and a wish list as ways to support the museum.
• The museum also runs a Derby Night fundraiser (scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 6–9:30 p.m.) with registration handled separately.

What is not confirmed

The specific names of the levels, their prices, and any benefits such as free admission, newsletters, gift shop discounts or event invitations are not given in the supplied page evidence. Treat any list of tiers you see elsewhere as unverified until you check the museum's own membership page.

How to decide

If you mainly attend merit badge workshops, compare the membership cost against the $5-per-workshop saving. A Scout who takes several workshops in a year could reach the break-even point quickly; a family attending once likely would not. If you are joining to support the collection and programs rather than for discounts, the tier names matter less than the donation amount you are comfortable with.

Next step

Open the museum's Membership Levels page directly, or contact the museum at 651-748-2880 to ask for the current tier list, prices and benefits in writing. For context on the wider Scouting museum landscape, see Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA.

What Girl Scout-specific programs and collections does the North Star Museum offer?

The North Star Museum in North St. Paul, Minnesota, treats Girl Scouting as one of two core subject areas rather than a side exhibit. Its stated mission is to collect, preserve, share and interpret the history and significance of both Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting in the upper Midwest, and its collections are organized into separate Girl Scouting and Boy Scouting sections alongside scouting artifacts.

Girl Scout–specific offerings

• Girl Scout collections. A dedicated collections area covers Girl Scouting history, so a troop leader, alumna or historian researching uniforms, handbooks, badges or council history knows where to start looking.
• Girl Scout Workshops. Listed as a distinct program type, separate from the merit badge workshops, which are built around Boy Scout advancement.
• Women's history angle. A local television feature highlighted the Girl Scout half of the museum during Women's History Month, which suggests the Girl Scout material is presented with attention to women's history, not only as memorabilia.

Programming open to Girl Scouts and mixed groups

• Escape Room, Summer Programs, and Spend a Night at the Museum are listed as general programs, so they are worth asking about for a Girl Scout troop even though the page does not label them Girl Scout–only.
• Building Rental and Membership apply to anyone; a service unit or troop committee could use the rental option for a event.

Practical notes for a visit

The museum is open Monday through Friday by appointment and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Appointments are arranged by email or voicemail, so a troop planning a Girl Scout–focused visit should contact the museum first to confirm which collection material or workshop fits their age level and badge goals.

If you are planning a troop activity, ask specifically whether a Girl Scout Workshop is scheduled near your dates, since the merit badge workshops run throughout the year while Girl Scout workshop dates are not detailed on the homepage. For broader context on scouting programs nationally, Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA publish current badge and program structures that can help you match a museum visit to a specific award.