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Blue Star Museums Nationwide Offer Free Admission to Military Families

Available May 15-September 6, 2021

August 19, 2021

The National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families are pleased to announce the return of the Blue Star Museums program for summer 2021. Museums in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands are registered as Blue Star Museums, with more museums signing up to participate throughout the summer. For a complete list of participants, visit arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.


Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America offering free admission to the nation’s currently-serving military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.

Blue Star Museums include children’s museums, art, science, and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses, and more. Military families can plan their summer move or vacation around visits to Blue Star Museums, and explore new places in their community with outings to local Blue Star Museums. There is no limit to how many museums a family can visit during the summer. 

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Blue Star Museums began in an effort to improve the quality of life for active-duty military families, especially focusing on the approximately two million children who have had at least one parent deployed since 2001. The program offers families a chance to visit museums this summer when many will have limited resources and time together. 

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as Active Duty and Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum. 

Follow Blue Star Museums on Twitter and Instagram @NEAarts, BlueStarFamily, #bluestarmuseums.