State Museum Joins Blue Star Museums Program

The South Carolina State Museum is proud to be part of the Blue Star Museums initiative, a national appreciation program to thank our military families for their service and share with them America’s cultural treasures.  As a part of Blue Star Museums, active military and their families are invited to enjoy free general admission to the South Carolina State Museum from Armed Forces Day, May 18, 2024, through Labor Day, September 2, 2024.

“We are excited to join museums across the country in showing appreciation to those serving in the military,” said State Museum Executive Director Amy Bartow-Melia. “The museum is a great Summer destination and, as a Blue Star Museum, we are happy for the opportunity to make visiting more accessible to military families.”

Blue Star Museum guests will receive free entrance to all four floors of the museum’s galleries, including the upcoming exhibition “Shared Sacrifice: South Carolina in World War II,” opening on June 8. The museum will also host the 80th Anniversary D-Day Salute on June 8, which will feature a performance from the 282D Army Jazz Band among a variety of other activities. Entrance to the special event is also free under the Blue Star Museum program.

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and participating museums across America. For a list of participating museums, visit arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

Free general admission to the South Carolina State Museum is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as 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.