Museums around nation join in for 10th summer of Blue Star Museums

Celebrating the 10th summer of Blue Star Museums, the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families has announced that museums nationwide have signed on to provide free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families this summer.

The 2019 program will begin earlier than in past years, starting on May 18, Armed Forces Day, and end Sept. 2, Labor Day. Military families can find the list of participating museums at arts. gov/bluestarmuseums.

Blue Star Museums is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums nationwide.

“As we launch the 10th summer of Blue Star Museums, it remains a privilege for the National Endowment for the Arts to serve members of the military and their families through this program,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Blue Star Museums provide a way for military families to have fun while traveling or when exploring their home community.

“We’ve seen the tremendous impact the Blue Star Museums program brings to our military families, and we’re thrilled to be celebrating a decade of support,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, chief executive officer of Blue Star Families.

This year’s participating organizations hail from all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Museums are welcome to sign up for Blue Star Museums throughout the summer at arts.gov.

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 members of the Reserves, National Guard, 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 @NEAarts and @BlueStarFamily, #bluestarmuseums.