Tennessee’s Blue Star Museum Program

By Suzanne Lynch, Director of Marketing and Development –

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America. Each summer since 2010, Blue Star Museums have offered free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

“The Blue Star Museums program is a fun, free activity for military families to enjoy during the summer months,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “The program is also a great way for service member families to connect to their new communities, and it can provide a meaningful way for families to reconnect after deployment. The Blue Star Museums program is also a perfect way for the arts community to say ‘thank you’ to our service members and their families for the sacrifices they make on our behalf, every day.”

Many museums across Tennessee participate in this program. In 2016, Blue Star Museums represent not just fine arts museums, but also science museums, history museums, nature centers and dozens of children’s museums. A state-by-state list of participating museums can be found here. Museums interested in participating in Blue Star Museums in summer 2017 should email bluestarmuseums@arts.gov.

Here is a list of Tennessee museums who participated in 2016:

Museums interested in participating in Blue Star Museums in summer 2017 should email bluestarmuseums@arts.gov.