Original 57 merit badges (Boy Scouts of America)

In 1911, 57 merit badges were issued by the Boy Scouts of America. Many of them exist to this day; these are in forest 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 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.