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Get Free Admission to Blue Star Museums!

Get Free Admission to Blue Star Museums!

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, qualifying active duty military service members and their families can enjoy FREE admission to over 2,000 Blue Star Museums nationwide! There are Blue Star Museums all over the United States, including Washington DC, Puerto Rico and American Samoa!

What are Blue Star Museums?

Blue Star Museums are part of a collaboration between Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, the National Endowment for the Arts, and more than 2,000 museums nationwide. They provide free admission for active duty military service members and their families. This is a nationwide “thank you” for the sacrifices that military families make every day.

What is Blue Star season?

The Blue Star Museum program only operates between Armed Forces Day and Labor Day every year. During the rest of the year, the Blue Star admission rates may not be honored.

Armed Forces Day is always the third Saturday in May and Labor Day is always the first Monday in September. That means that the exact dates will vary every year, but you can count on the program to run from late May to early September each year.

Who qualifies for Blue Star Museums?

To qualify, a family must have a family member currently serving in the military on active duty. National Guard and Reserve members, US Public Heath Service Commissioned Corps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Corps also qualify. 

The active duty service member does not need to be present in order for the family to gain free admission. Your family can use this benefit while your eligible family member is deployed or simply unable to attend the museum for any reason.

Please note that veterans and retirees are NOT eligible for participation with the Blue Star Museums program. Parents with a child on active duty, or parents who have lost a child that was serving on active duty are also not eligible. The program was specifically intended to support families, especially the children, of active-duty and deployed military members.

What do I need to bring to the museum?

For entry, you must provide a Geneva Convention Common Access Card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID Card, or a DD Form 1173-1 ID Card. Each card provides entry to the cardholder and up to five immediate family members. Family members are defined by the program as a spouse, child, aunt, uncle, grandparents or other close family member.

Families can go to the museum even if their qualifying service-member is currently deployed. Just bring your ID card with you!

What will I be able to do at the museum?

Your free admission through the Blue Star Museums program may have some limitations. It usually includes general admission only and does not include any paid upgrades for special exhibits or features. Many participating museums list on their websites which benefits they include with Blue Star entry.

How can I find a Blue Star Museum near me?

There are over 2,000 museums participating in this program nationwide. However, some of those museums offer free admission for everyone, all year long so there may be other programs that can help you.

You can find a Blue Star Museum near you!

family visits blue star museums

Thank you for your service!

Thank you so much for your service and sacrifices on behalf of our country. We have found other resources for military families!

Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.