Free admission for military personnel and their families from May 16 until September 7
The Museum of Utah is pleased to participate in Blue Star Museums, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families to museums across the US during the summer. While admission to the Museum of Utah is free year-round, we are grateful to participate in this program. The 2026 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16, 2026, and end on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026. 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 Museum of Utah opens to the public on June 27, 2026, with a Grand Opening Community Celebration on the Utah Capitol Complex from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Join us for a ribbon cutting, live performances, food trucks, community partner booths, and family-friendly activities. While admission to the Museum of Utah will be free year-round, the museum proudly participates in the Blue Star Museums initiative as a dedicated way to say “thank you” to our military families in Utah.
“Museums help military families stay connected—to each other, to their communities, and to the nation they serve,” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “As our country approaches 250 years of independence, Blue Star Museums provides service members and their loved ones with meaningful opportunities to explore history and spark curiosity. For military families—who often face frequent moves and time apart—these shared museum experiences offer a sense of stability, belonging, and connection. By opening doors nationwide, this program ensures they can engage with the arts and history that reflect their sacrifices and strengthen the bonds that hold them together.”
“Blue Star Museums has opened doors for military families to explore, connect, and feel at home,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. “As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, we’re proud to continue this partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and museums nationwide—welcoming military families into the heart of our nation’s story and celebrating them every step of the way.”
As Utah’s first state history museum, the Museum of Utah celebrates our unique history, culture, and art through world class exhibits, programming, and community spaces. The Museum of Utah is an extension of the Utah Historical Society, fostering curiosity about the past, informing the present, and strengthening our shared future. Housed inside the new Michael O. Leavitt Building (formerly the North Capitol Building), the Museum of Utah serves as a gateway to a Capitol Complex, engaging visitors as they explore Utah’s past and consider their place in shaping Utah’s future.
In addition to the Museum of Utah, participating museums can be found in all 50 states, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and include history, art, and children’s museums; historical sites; botanical gardens; zoos; aquariums; and more. A map of all participating museums is available on arts.gov. Museums can join the Blue Star Museums program all summer long and the map will be updated regularly.
This free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States military—Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and 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.
About the Museum of Utah
The Museum of Utah is the state’s first dedicated state history museum, located on the Utah Capitol Complex. As a legacy project of the Utah Historical Society, it serves as a gathering place to explore the different stories that define the Beehive State. The Utah Historical Society works to foster curiosity about the past, inform the present, and strengthen our shared future. Learn more at museum.utah.gov.
About the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. To learn more, visit arts.gov or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest military and veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach builds strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions. A “blue star family” is the family of a currently serving military member, including active duty, National Guard, reserve forces, and those transitioning out of service. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered more than $336 million in benefits and impacts more than 1.5 million people annually through an expansive network of chapters and outposts. For more information, click here.
