CLARKSVILLE, TN – The Customs House Museum has once again announced it will join museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer. The 2024 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2024, and end on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024. Learn more and find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums.
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 participating museums across America.
“The Customs House Museum is honored and deeply proud to be a Blue Star Museum. This esteemed designation not only highlights our commitment to serving those who have served our nation, but also underscores our enduring dedication to fostering cultural enrichment and community engagement,” said Executive Director Frank Lott. “As a Blue Star Museum, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have served. We are privileged to open our doors to these heroes and their families, ensuring they feel valued and celebrated within the vibrant tapestry of our museum’s offerings.”
“We are grateful to the Customs House Museum for participating in this summer’s Blue Star Museums program and we hope military families will take this opportunity to create meaningful, lifelong memories,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Whether you are traveling this summer, getting to know a new duty location or exploring what your community has to offer, Blue Star Museums is a wonderful opportunity to create connection and find inspiration.”
“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.”
In addition to the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center, the Blue Star Museums program includes children’s museums, art, science and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses and more, hailing from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The current list of participating museums will continue to grow over the summer, as organizations are welcome to register to be a Blue Star Museum.