Providence Children’s Museum 1 of 6 RI Blue Star Museums. Free admission, active military families

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and museums across America, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.

The Blue Star Museum program began last Saturday, May 18th and continue throughout the summer. More museums may be added every week.

Typically, more than 2,000 museums across America participate in Blue Star Museums each summer. These include children’s museums, art museums, history and science museums, zoos, and nature centers. You can find participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

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

To learn more about the Blue Star Museums program, visit the Initiative page – and to learn more about Blue Star Families – go HERE.

Rhode Island Blue Star Museums, to date, are:

Links to the museums:

Coggehsall Farm Museum – https://coggeshallfarm.org/

Newport Art Museum – https://newportartmuseum.org/

Newport Restoration Foundation – https://www.newportrestoration.org/

John Brown House Museum – https://www.rihs.org/locations/the-john-brown-house-museum/

Providence Children’s Museum – https://providencechildrensmuseum.org/

RISD Museum – https://risdmuseum.org/

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The Providence Children’s Museum (PCM) announced its participation in the Blue Star Museums program this summer. “We are honored to join museums nationwide in recognizing the service and sacrifice of our active-duty military families,” said Caroline Payson, Executive director. “PCM is a wonderful place for families to explore, learn, and create together, and we’re excited to welcome military families for free this summer.”

Blue Star Museums is a fantastic opportunity for military families stationed at or visiting Rhode Island to experience the PCM’s interactive exhibits and engaging programs. With hands-on exhibits, engaging programs, and plenty of space to let imaginations run wild, PCM is the perfect destination for family fun.

“Military families love Blue Star Museums, and we couldn’t run this program without the National Endowment for the Arts and the museums across the nation who show they care by participating,” said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. “Access to museums enriches military families, creates wonderful family memories, and helps us feel connected to our communities so that we can thrive and do the hard job we have to do for the country. I am delighted for us to launch the 14th year of this very special program.”

Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

Providence Children’s Museum serves children and adults of all backgrounds and from all communities. Its focus is on children, ages 1 to 11, and the adults who care for them by presenting hands-on, play-based exhibits and programs that explore arts, culture and science, technology, engineering, and math.

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The National Endowment for the Arts, established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities.

​​Blue Star Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest Chapter-based military and Veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach fosters strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions.