14 area museums and science centers to offer free admission to military families this summer

Leslie Penkunas//May 10, 2018//

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More than 70 museums across Pennsylvania, including 14 in Central PA, will offer free admission to military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve and their families, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Blue Star Museums, in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense, provide families an opportunity to enjoy the nation’s cultural heritage and learn more about their community, especially after a military move.

Nationally, nearly one million military members and their families took advantage of the free admission to more than 2,000 fine arts museums, science museums, nature centers, and children’s museums last summer.

“Visiting a museum is a great way to get to know a community—whether it’s in your hometown or a stop on a road trip,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu in a prepared statement. “We appreciate the enthusiasm of museums all across the country who open their doors for military and their families to spend time together and have new arts experiences.”

Leadership support for Blue Star Families programming and promotional materials has been provided by MetLife Foundation. The effort to recruit museums has involved partnerships with the American Alliance of Museums, the Association of Art Museum Directors, the Association of Children’s Museums, the American Association of State and Local History, the Association of Science-Technology Centers, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.