Blue Star Museums: Free for Military Families

Got a military ID? Take advantage of the more than 2,000 museums across America offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, through Labor Day.

Since 2010, the Blue Star Museums program has been a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Blue Star Families, the U.S. Department of Defense, and museums across America, providing families an opportunity to enjoy the nation’s cultural heritage and learn more about their new communities after a military move.

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Military families enjoy their visit to Hampton Roads Naval Museum at the 2016 Blue Star Museums launch on May 26, 2016. (Photo by David Hollingsworth)

“The Blue Star Museums program is a fun, free activity for military families to enjoy during

the summer months,” said former NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “The program … is a perfect way for the arts community to say ‘thank you’ to our servicemembers and their families for the sacrifices they make on our behalf, every day.”

The many participating Blue Star Museums represent not just fine arts museums, but also science museums, history museums, nature centers, and dozens of children’s museums. Visit the Blue Star Museums website at www.arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums to find a state-by-state list of locations participating in the program.

This was originally published in the May 2017 Auxiliary magazine.

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