American Cultures Merit Badge History
Introduced1979
Preceded byNone
StatusActive
Earned through 202083,032
Best year20193,089 earned
All-time popularity#154official, as of 2020#154by 2025 (estimate)
The Story
The American Cultures merit badge has maintained the same design for its merit badge since its inception in 1979.
Trivia
Timeline
1979 The American Cultures merit badge is introduced. The first American Cultures merit badges are earned: 161 that year.
1980 The earliest known American Cultures pamphlet printing (Type 9A).
2013 Best ranking: 83rd of 129 merit badges.
2019 All-time high: 3,089 American Cultures merit badges earned.
Merit Badge Patches
Select a patch to enlarge it; many include the back.
- Type H1972 - 2002blue, clear, and molded
- Does not exist in this styleType I
- Type J2002 - 2009Scout Stuff back
- Type K2010 - 2014BSA 2010 back
- Type L2015 - 2025Since 1910 back
- Type M2025 - currentScouting America back
What do the patch types mean?
- Type H
- Plastic back (1972 - 2002). A plastic stiffener on the back. Collectors tell them apart by the back, which can be clear, white, or a very light blue plastic, with waffle-textured and smooth molded versions. These are sorted into variations H1 through H5.
- Type I
- Computer designed (1993 - 1995). Flat-edged badges with machine (computer) embroidery and a wider border. Only some badges were made this way.
- Type J
- Scout Stuff back (2002 - 2009). The "Scout Stuff" Supply Division logo printed on the back.
- Type K
- BSA 100th anniversary back (2010 - 2014). The BSA 2010 anniversary logo printed on the back.
- Type L
- Since 1910 back (2015 - 2025). The "Since 1910" logo printed on the back, in large and small logo versions.
- Type M
- Scouting America back (2025 - current). The Scouting America logo printed on the back. Wildland Fire Management and Competitive Gaming, both new in 2026, start with Type M.
Dates are approximate and can vary by badge.
Merit Badge Pamphlets
The printings come from Scoutmaster Bucky's own collection and research.
Select a cover to see its back covers and every known printing.
31 printings, all in the collection.
- Type 9A1980 - 1993
- Type 9B-11995 - 1997
- Type 9B-21998 - 2002
- Type 9C-12005 - 2006
- Type 9C-22007
- Type 10A2008
Type 10B2009- Type 10C2010 - 2014
- Type 10D-12016 - 2019
- Type 10D-22019
Type 9A 1980 - 19935 backs · 11 printings · 11 in collection
back 9A1980 - 1983 · No. 3388
- 1980 Mar · 6M
- 1981 Jul · 5M
- 1983 Feb · 3MHard cover HCU
back 9B-11984 · No. 3388
- 1984 Sep · 2M
back 9B-21985 - 1989 · No. 3388
- 1985 Aug · 2M
- 1987 Jan · 2M
- 1987 Sep · 2M
- 1988 Apr · 2.5M
- 1989 May · 2.4M
back 9C-11991 · No. 3388
- 1991 Jul · 2M
back 9C-21993 · No. 33388
- 1993 Feb · 2M
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 9B-1 1995 - 19971 back · 4 printings · 4 in collection
back 9D1995 - 1997 · No. 33399
- 1995 Jan · 1.5Mstates 1994 edition in front with 6-1-1994 listed on back inside cover
- 1995 Jul · 1.5M
- 1996 Jan · 2.1M
- 1997 Sep
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 9B-2 1998 - 20022 backs · 4 printings · 4 in collection
back 9F1998 - 2001 · No. 33399
- 1998
- 1999
- 2001
back 9G2002 · No. 33399
- 2002
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 9C-1 2005 - 20061 back · 2 printings · 2 in collection
back 9G2005 - 2006 · No. 33399A
- 2005
- 2006
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 9C-2 20071 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 9H-22007 · No. 33399A
- 2007
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 10A 20081 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 1008B12008 · No. 35851
- 2008
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 10C 2010 - 20142 backs · 4 printings · 4 in collection
back 1010B12010 - 2012 · No. 35851
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
back 1013B12014 · No. 35851
- 201401268-AL
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 10D-1 2016 - 20192 backs · 3 printings · 3 in collection
back 1016B12016 · No. 35851
- 201601042-AL
- 2016358
back 1019B12019 · No. 35851
- 2019358
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Type 10D-2 20191 back · 1 printing · 1 in collection
back 1019B12019 · No. 655136
- 2019358
In collectionConfirmed, not in collectionUnconfirmed: not yet seen, may not existM = thousand copies, as printed on the pamphlet.
Hard Cover Varieties
Earned by Year
First earned in 1979. Peak year 2019 with 3,089. Hover over or tap a year for its numbers.
Known count No data available
"—" means merit badges were earned that year but the exact number is not currently known. "#121 of 141" means the badge was number 121 of the 141 merit badges earned that year. National counts have not been published since 2020, but the rankings have. The grand total comes from official reports and includes the years without a known count. The 2025 all-time place is an estimate, because the counts for 2021 to 2025 are worked out from each year's official ranking and the total number of merit badges earned that year.
1979161#117 of 132
1980577#114 of 132
1981928#114 of 134
1982—
1983—
1984—
1985—
1986—
1987—
1988—
1989—
1990—
1991—
1992—
19932,074#96 of 123
1994—
1995—
19961,892#98 of 134
1997—
1998—
1999—
20001,729#105 of 128
20011,940#104 of 129
20022,706#99 of 129
20032,332#104 of 130
20042,409#102 of 121
20052,450#102 of 121
20062,479#101 of 121
20072,334#102 of 121
20082,484#103 of 121
20092,710#101 of 122
20102,353#108 of 125
20112,965#101 of 129
20122,883#93 of 132
20132,649#83 of 129
20142,174#123 of 136
20152,233#121 of 138
20162,218#123 of 138
20172,298#121 of 139
20182,519#120 of 139
20193,089#111 of 139
20202,906#100 of 137
2021—#113 of 137
2022—#119 of 138
2023—#119 of 138
2024—#120 of 138
2025—#121 of 141
Grand total through 2020: