In 1911, 57 merit badges were issued by the Boy Scouts of America. Many of them exist to this day and are listed below in green. Many of the others have been discontinued or reintroduced with different names. Of the discontinued original merit badges, four were offered in 2010 as part of the Boy Scouts of America centennial. These merit badges are listed in beige.
Soon after the introduction of merit badges, the ranks of Life, Star, and Eagle were created to recognize the earning of merit badges; Star was moved before Life in 1924.
Original merit badges Merit badgeSubject matterOriginal LogoStatusAgricultureAgriculturePlowMerged into Plant Science, 1975AnglingAngling, FishingFishRenamed Fishing in 1952ArcheryArcheryBow and ArrowArchitectureArchitectureArchLogo used continuously for 100 yearsArtArtPaletteLogo used continuously for 100 yearsAstronomyAstronomyStarAthleticsAthleticsWingfootLogo used continuously for 100 yearsAutomobilingAutomobile safetyRed WheelExists today as Traffic SafetyAviationAviationAirplaneBee FarmingBeekeepingBeeDiscontinued 1995BlacksmithingBlacksmithingAnvilReplaced by metalworkingBuglingBuglingBugleLogo used continuously for 100 yearsBusinessBusinessCrossed quillsRenamed American Business in 1966.CampingCampingTepeeCarpentryCarpentryPlanePartially replaced by Woodwork, 1952. Carpentry introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge.ChemistryChemistryRetort flaskLogo used continuously for 100 yearsCivicsCitizenshipFacesRenamed Citizenship, later split into Home, Community, Nation, and WorldConservationConservationForestExists today as Fish and Wildlife Management and Environmental ScienceCookingCookingCooking utensilsCraftsmanshipArtisanCalipersSplit into various Building and Handicraft merit badgesCyclingCyclingWhite WheelDairyingDairy farmingButter ChurnMerged into Animal Science, 1975ElectricityElectricityLightning BoltLogo used continuously for 100 yearsFiremanshipFire safetyCrossed nozzlesRenamed Fire Safety in 1995First AidFirst aidCrossLogo used continuously for 100 yearsFirst Aid to AnimalsVeterinary medicineCross w/DogRenamed Veterinary MedicineForestryForestryPine ConeGardeningGardeningEar of CornHandicraftHandicraftHammer and PlungerSplit into various Building and Handicraft merit badgesHorsemanshipEquestrianismHorseshoeInterpretingInterpretingHandshakeDiscontinued 1952InventionInventingGearDiscontinued 1915LeatherworkingLeatherworkingLeather StampRenamed LeatherworkLifesavingLifesavingLife preserverLogo used continuously for 100 yearsMachineryMachineryWrenchDiscontinued 1995MarksmanshipShootingTargetSplit into Rifle Shooting and Shotgun ShootingMasonryMasonryTrowelDiscontinued in 1995MiningMiningShovelRenamed GeologyMusicMusicLyreLogo used continuously for 100 yearsOrnithologyOrnithologyHummingbirdWas originally required for Eagle, replaced by Bird StudyPaintingPaintPaintbrushLogo used continuously for 100 yearsPathfindingOrienteeringIndian HeadReplaced by Orienteering. Introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge.Personal HealthPhysical FitnessHeartReplaced by Personal Fitness in 1952PhotographyPhotographyCameraPioneeringPioneeringPick and AxPlumbingPlumbingFaucetLogo used continuously for 100 yearsPoultry FarmingPoultryRoosterMerged into Animal Science, 1975PrintingPrintingPrinting PressMerged into Graphic Arts, 1987Public HealthPublic HealthTorchLogo used continuously for 100 yearsScholarshipScholarshipTorch & BookLogo used continuously for 100 yearsSculptureSculptureHeadSeamanshipBoatingAnchorSplit into Motorboating and Small Boat Sailing, 1964SignalingSemaphoreSemaphore FlagsDiscontinued in 1992. Introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge. Reinstated again in 2015 as Signs, Signals, and CodesStalkingTrackingRaccoonDiscontinued 1952. Introduced again in 2010 as historic merit badge, and renamed TrackingSurveyingSurveyingTelescopeSwimmingHuman swimmingMan SwimmingTaxidermyTaxidermyTalonDiscontinued in 1952
References
See also Merit badge (Boy Scouts of America) History of merit badges (Boy Scouts of America) Discontinued merit badges (Boy Scouts of America)