If you're a military family looking for fun and educational summer activities, you can visit more than 2,000 museums nationwide — including several right here in our area — for free! Blue Star Museums is a collaborative program that offers complimentary admission to active-duty military personnel and their families, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, each summer from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day.
Local participating museums can be found https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums, along with others throughout the Puget Sound region and across Washington state. Each year, museums of all kinds take part — including children's museums, art museums, science centers, zoos, and nature centers. You can visit as many as you'd like, as often as you'd like during the program period!
Free admission is available to those with one of the following: a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card. This includes active-duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, as well as the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and NOAA Commissioned Corps — plus up to five family members. Eligible family members may include spouses, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and more.
To find participating museums in Washington, click https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums. The Blue Star Museums website offers a full list and an interactive map to help plan your visits. Please note that some special exhibits or limited-time events may not be included. For details about specific exhibits, contact the museum directly. You can also find general FAQs about the program https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums.
