Museums across America are offering free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families through Labor Day. Courtes/Blue Star Families

NMDCA News:

Today the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) announced the participation of its museums and historic sites in the Blue Star Museums program.

The program is a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families that began on Armed Forces Day, May 20, and runs through Labor Day, Sept. 4, 2023.  

Who:

• NMDCA is the cultural steward of New Mexico’s state museums and historic sites which include: Museum of International Folk Art, NM History Museum, NM Museum of Art, and NM Museum of Indian Art & Culture in Santa Fe; the National Hispanic Cultural Center and NM Museum of Natural History & Science in Albuquerque; NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; NM Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces; and Historic Sites throughout the state: Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site, Coronado Historic Site, Jemez Historic Site, Lincoln Historic Site, Fort Selden Historic Site, and Fort Stanton Historic Site.  

What:

• Entrance fees at all NMDCA museums and historic sites will be waived for active duty military and their families as part of the Blue Star Museums Program.   

When:

• The Blue Star Museums Program began on Armed Forces Day, May 20, and ends Labor Day, Sept. 4, 2023.  

Why:

• Museums in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are registered as Blue Star Museums, with more museums signing up to participate throughout the summer. 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 Active Duty and Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), 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.

For a complete list of participants, visit arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.