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SOUTH FLORIDA SCIENCE MUSEUM TO PARTICIPATE IN BLUE STAR MUSEUMS
Today the South Florida Science Museum announced the launch of Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and more than 700 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families now through Labor Day.
“We are thrilled to offer free admission to those who are currently serving our country and their families,” said Lew Crampton, chief executive officer for the South Florida Science Museum. “We are happy to be able to offer families the opportunity to come together and experience more than 50 hands-on exhibits that the South Florida Science Museum offers at no cost.”
“There have always been wonderful examples of partnerships between museums and military installations, but the scale of this gift from the museum communities to military families is thrilling,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, Blue Star families chairman. “Military families work hard for this country, and it is gratifying for us to be recognized for that.”
More than 700 museums in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are taking part in the initiative. The American Association of Museums, the Association of Art Museum Directors, and the Association of Children’s Museums each sent a letter from NEA Chairman Landesman inviting museums to participate in this program.
Blue Star Museums runs from now until Labor Day, Sept. 6. The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention Common Access Card (CAC), a DD Form 1173, or a DD Form 1173-1, which includes active duty military and five immediate family members, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserve. The complete list of participating Blue Star Museums is available at www.arts.gov.
The South Florida Science Museum provides curious minds of all ages with an entertaining and educational journey through science and technology. Located in West Palm Beach, the museum features more than 50 hands-on exhibits, a digital planetarium, freshwater and saltwater aquariums, as well as natural history exhibitions. Each year the museum welcomes more than 120,000 visitors and reaches more than 55,000 students through workshops at the museum and outreach programs to local schools. Established in 1961, the museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to exciting curiosity and furthering the understanding and appreciation of science and technology.
The South Florida Science Museum is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach. For more information about the South Florida Science Museum, call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsm.org.