The University of Nebraska State Museum – including Ashfall Fossil Beds, Morrill Hall and the Trailside Museum of Natural History – with the International Quilt Study Center and Museum and the Sheldon Museum of Art will offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense.
The three museums will offer free admission to active duty military personnel, including the National Guard and Reserve, and their families from Memorial Day (May 29) through Labor Day (Sept. 4) as part of the Blue Star Museum program. The complete list of participating museums is available here.
“The Blue Star Museums program is a great opportunity for the NEA to team up with local museums in every state in the nation to support our service members and their families,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “It means a lot to offer these families access to high-quality, budget-friendly opportunities to spend time together.”
Participating University of Nebraska-Lincoln museums invite families to these summer events:
University of Nebraska State Museum-Morrill Hall, 645 N. 14th St., Archie’s Late Night Party, 6 to 10 p.m. June 8: Archie and his fossil friends are staying up late to have fun with families. Participants of all ages will be able to explore science and natural history topics through hands-on activities.
International Quilt Study Center and Museum, 1523 N. 33rd St., Garden Party and Gallery Tour, 4 to 7 p.m. June 2: Attendees can celebrate Nebraska Wildflower Week with refreshments and quilts while looking out over the Quilt House Garden. Guest curator Christine Martens will give a tour of “Sacred Scraps: Quilt and Patchwork Traditions of Central Asia” at 5:30 p.m.
Sheldon Museum of Art, 12th and R streets, A 150th Birthday Party for Nebraska, 1 to 4 p.m. July 16: Participants can play games inspired by artwork in Sheldon’s collection and design party favors for the occasion. The event will also include live music and birthday cake.
The Blue Star Museums program is available to anyone with a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID) or DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and NOAA Commissioned Corps – and up to five family members. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in the free-admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, contact the museum directly.
