Free Summertime Admission for Active-Duty Military Families at Blue Star Museums

Beginning on Armed Forces Day and continuing through Labor Day, approximately 2,000 museums across America participate in the Blue Star Museum Program by providing free admission to active duty military personnel and their families.

Blue Star Museums, located in virtually every state, include nature centers, zoos, children’s museums and a vast array of archival institutions focusing on history, art, science, technology and other areas of interest. An interactive map on the National Endowment for the Arts website facilitates a by-state or by-name/subject search with links to each participating museum. The Blue Star Family website also has a map that indicates specific Blue Star Museum locations within each state.

All military personnel serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard (including Reservists), National Guard (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps and NOAA Commissioned Corps, may receive free admission, along with up to five family members. The active duty member does not need to be present for family members to use the program. Further details, including identification requirements, can be found at Blue Star Museums: Frequently Asked Questions.

Launched in 2010, the Blue Star Museums Program is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, and functions in collaboration with the Department of Defense and museums across America. Blue Star Families is a national, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, dedicated to supporting, connecting, and empowering military families.