Columbus, Ohio: Unknown Boy Scout Plaque
All hail the Boy Scout, so exemplary yet so obscure that no one seems to remember his name. His timber hitches have unraveled, his dutch oven is rusted to powder, and the old ladies he helped across the street are all dead.
Ohio State House
- Address:
- S. HIgh St., Columbus, OH
- Directions:
- On the east side of S. High St. just south of W. Broad St. A little plaque on a little rock in the planting area next to the entrance to the underground parking garage. Behind an iron fence, under a small tree, just up the path a few feet on your left, from the entrance to the garage.
- Admission:
- Free
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There is underground public parking. The Unknown Boy Scout plaque is directly across the street from the Newsboy statue.
[Stephen Francia, 01/22/2023]
The tribute plaque is behind an iron fence, but is easily read from the sidewalk. Below the official plaque is a newer one from the Central Ohio Boy Scouts, in honor of 75 years of scouting in Central Ohio.
[Casaflamingo, 10/03/2014]The plaque in question (and the rock it is mounted to) was moved to the northwest corner of the Ohio Statehouse grounds, presumably during the extensive renovations that Capitol Square underwent between 1989 and 1993. It sits near the entrance to the underground parking complex on the corner of High and Broad.
[Paul Kownacki, 03/11/2009]The Unknown Boy Scout was an anonymous British Scout who mysteriously appeared, guided superrich American William Boyce through foggy London, and refused to accept a shilling in payment. "Scouts do not accept tips for Good Turns." This inspired Boyce to bring Scouting to America.
The plaque designating the statue as being the 'Unknown Boy Scout' is no longer there. It's apparently been professionally removed, as there's no sign of a missing plaque (screw holes, etc) on the statue's pedestal. The base of the statue is inscribed "R.T. McKenzie 1937," although I'm inclined to think that's the sculptor's name, since it's hidden in back. I was going to ask in the Scout HQ about the 'Unknown Boy Scout', but it was early, and there was no one there yet. It's still a very nice bronze statue of a boy scout, if you like statuary.
[Marshall Woods, 06/15/2004]This is actually a statue of the Ideal Boy Scout, of which there are duplicates in front of Scout HQs in Irving, Texas, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's nice that Columbus offers a choice of two different Scouts to visit.
The monument to the Unknown Boy Scout is located at 1901 E Dublin Granville Rd (sr161). It's in front of the headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America Simon Kentin Council offices
[Guy Orsini, 06/01/2003]Nearby Offbeat Places
Newsboy Statue, Columbus, OH - < 1 mi.
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The "Unknown Boy Scout" was an English Scout patrolling the streets of London, who anonymously helped an American visitor. The visitor was so impressed that when he returned to the USA he founded the Boy Scouts of America.