ASF Initiatives
Heritage and Preservation
The Guards Museum, London
The American-Scottish Foundation is proud to work with the Guards Museum to highlight the Restoration and Preservation of the Museum, a designated project of the Foundation. ASF is a not profit 501c3 organization and all donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. The Guards Museum is undoubtedly a success story in that it is one of only nine regimental museums in the UK that operates in profit and without the benefit of any national funding.
The Museum is very pleased to launch the American Friends of the Guards Museum - offering the British American community a special way of supporting this unique institution.
The Guards Museum explores over 380 years of history behind the Foot Guards. They are made up of five Regiments: the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards. These Regiments are world-famous for their role guarding the British Monarch and Royal Palaces, but they have always been highly trained, frontline infantry soldiers – from the beginning of the British Army to the present day.
With over 1000 items from our collection on public display, our history will take you through Royal coronations and Royal executions, from the coldest corners of the world to riding camel-back in the desert sun, from guarding the palace to guarding the nation.
5 Regiments. 380 years of history. We tell their story.
What’s On
This September, we will be hosting our third annual open weekend as part of England's largest community led festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Days.
Last years’ event saw history come to life like never before. With re-enactors from across Guards’ history, visitors had the chance to step back in time. Better yet, they could try on the iconic scarlet tunic and bearskin cap, to find out for themselves what being a guardsman might feel like. Our friendly team held themed talks for those looking to delve further into our exhibits.
The Curator was on hand with objects from our collection – bringing history out from behind the glass and into your hands! For the little ones, there was a medal making workshop, as well as a host of themed trails and activities. All while listening to the sounds of a live military band.
Join us again this year for a weekend of family fun in the heart of central London that you don’t want to miss! No booking is required, and the best part, it’s FREE.
When: 13th-14th September
Where: The Guards Museum, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London SW1E 6HQ
Museum Updates
Over the course of 2024, The Guards Museum has seen some exciting developments. We have launched a free audio guide for visitors, available in nine languages. This guide explores 10 key objects and stories from across our collection – from the very first campaign medal in the British Army, to a firsthand account from the battlefields of Waterloo, to an officer, who also happened to be a goose.
We have also installed a new exhibition in collaboration with the Museum of Army Music. It is located in our music gallery, exploring ‘The Food Guards and Army Music’. The objects on display were curated from their own collection of more than 8,000 items, dating from the 18th century to the present day. Through these items, they follow the history and traditions of music in the British Army alongside the personal stories of the musicians, bandmasters, composers and many others. As their collection is currently housed in store, thereby not on public display, this exhibition was an opportunity to bring some of this wonderful collection back into the public eye.
We are lucky to often hear the sounds of the Foot Guards bands drifting down to the museum, rehearsing and performing just next door. These world-renowned musicians are carrying on a tradition that is centuries old, from the battlefield to the gates of Buckingham Palace. With this new exhibition, visitors can dig deeper into the rich history that sits behind these musicians.
In November we commemorated 10 years since the opening of The Flanders Fields Memorial Garden by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Majesty Philippe, King of the Belgians, located just outside the museum. It was established in 2014 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. Its’ creation took many years of hard work from dedicated individuals. The heart of the garden is the soil in the raised centre bed, gathered from 70 battlefield cemeteries in Flanders where so many lost their lives.
Several of the instrumental individuals who brought the garden into being were able to return to pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed in a service on Armistice Day. This included Piet Blanckaert, the architect who designed the garden; Michel Van Hoonacker, who ensured this vision was realised through remarkable fundraising efforts; and finally, a young boy who emptied the first of the sacred soil into the garden bed at just 8 years old. However, 10 years on, this young boy returned as a man, laying a wreath on the garden in a solemn moment of remembrance.
Throughout 2025, we expect to continue developing our exhibition space, and continue to connect visitors with the stories of the Guards through our events and public programmes schedule. Follow our Instagram for the latest museum updates:
@guardsmuseum
(https://www.instagram.com/guardsmuseum/)
The Guards Museum is home to a unique collection of artefacts and memorabilia dating back four hundred years and representing the history of the five regiments of Foot Guards
The Museum is located close to Buckingham Palace, within Wellington Barracks which is the headquarters of the five regiments of Foot Guards,
namely, the Grenadiers, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards - acknowledged as setting and maintaining the highest possible standards of the British Army.
Together with the two regiments of cavalry, The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals, they comprise Her Majesty’s Household Division Andrew Wallis, Guards Museum Director, is delighted to announce that he will be undertaking an nine-event tour in the United States from April 25th to May 8th.
WAYS TO SUPPORT THE GUARDS MUSEUM
The American-Scottish Foundation is proud to work with the Guards Museum to highlight the Restoration and Preservation of the Museum, a designated project of the Foundation. ASF is a not profit 501c3 organization and all donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.
The Guards Museum is undoubtedly a success story in that it is one of only nine regimental museums in the UK that operates in profit and without the benefit of any national funding.
The Museum is very pleased to launch the American Friends of the Guards Museum - offering the British American community a special way of supporting this unique institution.
LEVELS OF ANNUAL SUPPORT
PATRON GENERAL $1000
PLATINUM COLONEL $500
GOLD MAJOR $250
SILVER GUARDSMAN $100
| SILVER GUARDSMAN $100 |
GOLD MAJOR $250 |
| PLATINUM COLONEL $500 |
PATRON GENERAL $1,000 |
| Other Contribution |
If you prefer, download a mailable form here
Additional questions or inquiries, please contact the American-Scottish Foundation at (929) 499-9025 or AmericanScottishFoundation@gmail.com.