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Free admission to any of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs’ (NMDCA) eight museums and seven historic sites will be available this summer to active-duty military personnel and their families through the Blue Star Museums program. New Mexico has a sizable active-duty military and National Guard population of more than 43,000 people and NMDCA offers these individuals a chance to explore the history and culture of the state throughout the summer.

Through this program, NMDCA museums and sites will offer free admission to active-duty military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve, and their families beginning on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2024 through Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024. The Arts and Military program of New Mexico Arts is launching a promotional campaign to bring greater awareness to this opportunity.

The eight NMDCA museums offering free admission include: Museum of International Folk Art (Santa Fe), Museum of Indian Arts & Culture (Santa Fe), National Hispanic Cultural Center (Albuquerque), New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (Albuquerque), New Mexico History Museum (Santa Fe), New Mexico Museum of Space History (Alamogordo), New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum (Las Cruces), and New Mexico Museum of Art – Plaza Building and Vladem Contemporary (Santa Fe).

The seven NMDCA historic sites offering free admission include: Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site (Fort Sumner), Coronado Historic Site (Bernalillo), Jemez Historic Site (Jemez Springs), Fort Stanton Historic Site (Capitan/Fort Stanton), Lincoln Historic Site (Lincoln), Fort Selden Historic Site (Radium Springs), and Los Luceros Historic Site (Alcalde).

Blue Star Museums is available for those currently serving in the US Military–Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard–including Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), US Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps. The free admission extends to up to five family members. Qualified members must show a valid military ID. For more information about Blue Star Museums, including a map of participating museums, visit www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums.

Additionally, NMDCA has partnered with the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services to offer free passes to all New Mexico veterans with a service-connected disability rated 50% or higher, enabling these veterans to access every NMDCA institution once for free. Find out more about this program and others serving disabled veterans at nmdvs.org/state-veteran-benefits.

About New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs: Created in 1978 by the New Mexico Legislature, the Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) is New Mexico’s cultural steward, charged with preserving and showcasing the state’s cultural riches. With its eight museums, eight historic sites, arts, archaeology, historic preservation, and library programs, NMDCA is one of the largest and most diverse state cultural agencies in the nation. Together, the facilities, programs, and services of the Department support a $5.6 billion cultural industry in New Mexico.

About New Mexico Arts: New Mexico Arts (NMA) is the state arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. NMA’s mission is to ensure the arts are central to the lives of New Mexicans, including active-duty members of the military and their families, as well as veterans. For more information about New Mexico Arts visit nmarts.org.