Stafford Air and Space Museum 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 2023 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 2023, and end on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2023. Find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. 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.
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.
“We thank the 2023 Blue Star Museums who invite military personnel and their families to experience the many wonders they have to offer, whether it’s a glimpse into the past, an encounter with awe-inspiring art, or a moment of discovery,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Stafford Air and Space Museum is helping to enrich the lives of military families and build meaningful connections between our nation’s military and their local community.”
About Stafford Air and Space Museum The Stafford Air and space Museum is named in honor of legendary test pilot and astronaut, Lt. General Thomas Stafford. Located in Weatherford, Oklahoma, the museum houses one of the finest aerospace and space flight collections in the central United States. The museum not only highlights Stafford’s illustrious career, but also the many daring explorers that made a profound impact in the advancement of aerospace technology and research. The museum has many artifacts on display, educating the public on our nation’s rich aviation and spaceflight history.
Named a Smithsonian Affiliate in 2011, the museum showcases thousands of items representing the evolution of aviation and spaceflight. Examples include a ten story Titan-II rocket, the actual flown Gemini 6 spacecraft, actual space suits – including Stafford’s own Apollo 10 pressure suit, a full-scale replica of the Apollo Command, Service Module, Lunar Module, and so much more.
About 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. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. To learn more, visit arts.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
