Throughout the spring and fall months we have many holidays honoring members of the military, both active duty and veterans. Many museums already partake year round, offering some sort of reduced rates for members of the military who provide a military ID.

But what about families? Particularly during the summer, when school is out and parents are looking for something to do with their children. Enter the Blue Star Museums program. This national program, which guarantees free museum admission for active duty military members, including the National Guard, and their families, runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. It is a collaboration between the Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Department of Defense (not to mention the more than 2,000 museums that take part!). Many museums that offer this program extend the length of their free days, either through the length of their open season or year round.

This is a wonderful way for museums to offer their collection and educational resources while honoring the service of our military men and women. Whether you are a museum who wants to sign up for the program, or you want more information on the program, visit their website for more information and a map of all of the Blue Star museums in your state.