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Blue Star Museum admissions free for military families this summer

Taking an entire family to a museum can run into the three figures. But military families can get a big break thanks to Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense.

The program offers FREE admission to more than 2,000 museums across America for the nation’s service members, including National Guard and Reserve, and their families.

The 2023 Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, and ends on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4

For the rest of the year, be sure to read our post on Military Appreciation discounts available all year.

Photo: Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day

Who is eligible?

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. This includes reservists, National Guard members (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members.

Do I need to show an ID card?

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.

Does the active-duty member need to be present?

 The military ID holder can be either the active-duty service member or other dependent family member with the appropriate ID card;  the active-duty member does not have to be present for family members to use the program. Just bring your DD Form 1173 ID Card, or DD Form 1173-1 ID Card.

What about retirees and veterans?

If you are a retiree or veteran, ask the museum you plan to visit if they offer reduced or special rates for military members who aren’t currently serving.

What museums participate?

Typically, more than 2,000 museums across America participate in Blue Star Museums each summer. And “museums” aren’t just about fine art, history or science. The list includes children’s museums, zoos and nature centers. Note: The list may change from year to year.

If you’re vacationing, run a quick search before creating an itinerary. To search for participating museums, click here.

Photo: Frost Science Museum

Miami-Dade County

Broward County

Photo: Cox Science Center and Aquarium

 Palm Beach County

Florida Keys

Our sister site, LivingOnTheCheap.com contributed information to this post.

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More museum discounts

If you’re looking for other ways to visit museums free, check out our list of free museum days in South Florida.

Other museum deals, free days and special events:

Monday, May 29, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Miami Museum & Attractions Months

All Day | Discounted

MOSAIC deals & discounts: Various days, times & venues in PBC

Discounted | Various sites in Palm Beach Co.

$5 admission to Deering Estate

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Deering Estate

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Miami Museum & Attractions Months

All Day | Discounted

MOSAIC deals & discounts: Various days, times & venues in PBC

Discounted | Various sites in Palm Beach Co.

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Miami Museum & Attractions Months

All Day | Discounted

MOSAIC deals & discounts: Various days, times & venues in PBC

Discounted | Various sites in Palm Beach Co.

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Sunny Days/Starry Nights at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale with free entry

11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

$12 Adult Skate Night in Fort Lauderdale

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $12.00 | Xtreme Action Park

Friday, June 2, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Art After Dark Fridays: Entertainment, activities & times vary

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach

Downtown Delray Art Walk

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Delray Beach

Free First Fridays at ICA

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | ICA Miami

Free Gallery Night entry

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Coral Gables Museum

Art After Dark: Jazz Fridays

7:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach

Night Forest Walk in North Broward

7:30 pm to 8:30 pm | $5.00 | Fern Forest Nature Center

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU free every Saturday

All Day | FREE | Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU

Gold Coast Museum free first Saturday

All Day | FREE | Gold Coast Railroad Museum

Free entry to museums with bank card

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Yappy Saturday

9:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Farm Tours at Tradewinds Park

11:30 am to 2:00 pm | $3.00-4.50 | Tradewinds Park

Free tour of the Adrienne Arsht Center

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | Adrienne Arsht Center

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Merrick House Museum Guided Tours

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Merrick House Museum, Miami-Dade

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Night sky viewing with telescopes in west Broward

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Fox Observatory

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Free entry to museums with bank card

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Free live music at Jazz Brunch in Fort Lauderdale

11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk

Farm Tours at Tradewinds Park

11:30 am to 2:00 pm | $3.00-4.50 | Tradewinds Park

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

CommuniTEA Dance

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Adrienne Arsht Center

Merrick House Museum Guided Tours

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Merrick House Museum, Miami-Dade

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Poinciana Fiesta and Celebration Party and Reception

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

$12 Adult Skate Night in Fort Lauderdale

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $12.00 | Xtreme Action Park

See all the free and cheap events this week.

Museums free for military families this summer
When
All Day, Daily (May 20, 2023 - September 4, 2023)
Cost
FREE
What
Museums free for military families this summer
Where
South Florida Museums
Mary Lou Cruz

About Mary Lou Cruz

I worked at the South Florida Sun Sentinel for 21 years, as an Advertising Special Sections Writer; Editorial Systems Editor in Technology; and Editorial Assistant in the Newsroom. Before my newspaper career, I worked in the airline and travel industry and I have lived in Brazil, Puerto Rico and vacationed in more than 25 countries. Originally, I'm from Maryland. I moved to Florida in 1984 and raised my daughter in Miami. Send me notices and details for upcoming free events, from Jupiter to Boca, at news@PalmBeachOnTheCheap.com.

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