ABILENE, Kan. -  The Girl Scouts of the USA are celebrating their 100th Anniversary at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. An exhibit, "Something for the Girls! Celebrating 100 Years," kicks off March 10 in the Visitors Center Auditorium with a 10 a.m. program and exhibit opening. The exhibit is scheduled to run through Sept. 3 closing after Labor Day weekend.

The exhibit, located on the first floor of the Library building, features the history of Girl Scouts from their founding in 1912 to the present. Founder Juliette Gordon Low organized the first Girl Scout Troop with just 18 girls on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Ga. The goal was and still is for Girl Scouts to be active, helpful, and responsible citizens.  

The exhibit shows how the Girl Scouts, the largest organization for girls in the world, has progressed with the times from its founding to present day. The Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland furnished many artifacts for the exhibit, including some on loan from the Post Rock Scout Museum in Lincoln, Kan. 

"We are pleased to host this exhibit celebrating the rich 100-year history of the Girl Scouts," said Karl Weissenbach, Director, Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. "This is just the beginning of a new partnership between the Girl Scouts and the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum that will provide many positive mutual benefits for both organizations," he added.  

One part of the exhibit tells how the Girl Scout organization relates to the Presidency. Traditionally the First Lady is the honorary national president. The uniform that Mamie Eisenhower wore in this role will be displayed in the Museum, while uniforms from each decade will be displayed with the bulk of the exhibit in the Library building.                           

Historic Girl Scout videos will be shown continuously in the Library auditorium to supplement the exhibit. One of the videos is about the "Golden Eaglet," now the "Gold Award," the highest Girl Scout achievement.