The American Association of Museums, in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Blue Star Families organization is offering free admission to various museums across the United States this summer for active duty military personnel and their immediate families.

The program is called Blue Star Museums, in honor of the blue stars that families of deployed service members often display. More than 700 museums in all 50 states are participating, including children’s museums, fine art museums, history and science museums.

Among those included are the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston; California Surf Museum in Oceanside; Mission San Luis, a living history site and historic landmark in Tallahassee, Fla.; International Quilt Study Center & Museum at the University of Lincoln, Neb.; the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, New Hampshire.

The offer is valid from Memorial Day, May 31, through Labor Day, Sept. 6. Find a list of all participating museums at: http://www.nea.gov/national/bluestarmuseums/index.php.

Published July 9, 2010