Blue Star Museums Nationwide Offer Free Admission to Military Families
Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18 - Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024

The National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families are pleased to announce the return of the Blue Star Museums program for summer 2024.  Museums in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the 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 the National Guard and Reserve.

Participation in the program is entirely voluntary. By registering, museums express their appreciation for the nation's military and their families, while acknowledging the hardships that come with that service. 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 Blue Star Museums. There is no limit to how many museums a family can visit during the summer.

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 U.S. 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.

The Columbia River Maritime Museum is proud to be part of Blue Star Museums. Admission to the Columbia River Maritime Museum is already free for active-duty military, but we participate in the Blue Star Museums program as a way to say "thank you" to our military families.