Again in 2025, dozens of Minnesota museums will participate in the summer Blue Star Museums program. This national program provides free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families each summer, since 2010. The 2025 program begins on Saturday, May 17, 2025 (Armed Forces Day) and ends on September 1, 2025 (Labor Day).
Find a list of participating museums on the National Endowment for the Arts Website. Participating museums change each year, so be sure to check again this year even if you participated last year. In addition, not every museum that claims to be participating on their own website is listed on the Blue Star website. We recommend calling ahead to avoid disappointment and it never hurts to ask if a museum is participating.
Who Can Participate in the Blue Star Museums Program?
This free admission program is available for anyone currently serving in the United States Military and up to five family members. This includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. But it also includes members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps. To take advantage of this offer, military personnel will need to show a form of military ID (Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID) or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card).
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Find our full list of Twin Cities Museums and Historic Places here.
It’s actually sad to think when a Blue Star family Tragically becomes a gold Star family that now they have to pay to enter. How much is the life of a service member worth? Apparently not free admission when you give your life for this country.
We recommend you share this thought with the National Endowment for the Arts – the creator of the Blue Star program, Louis.
Is it free for retired-disabled military personnel as well?
The Blue Star program is for active military families. But look for special offers this weekend and directly through museums. Fort Snelling is also free to Veterans during Memorial Day weekend.
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