The Virginia Museum of the Civil War at New Market Battlefield State Historical Park is participating in Blue Star Museums, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families during the summer. The 2025 program began on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 17, and will end on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1. 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.
In addition to the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, participants include history, art, and children’s museums, historical sites, botanical gardens, zoos, aquariums, and more, and can be found in all 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. The current list of participating museums will continue to grow as organizations can register to be a Blue Star Museum throughout the summer.
The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States military — Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, 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.
Located in New Market, the Virginia Museum of the Civil War provides opportunities to reflect upon the Battle of New Market which raged just outside on May 15, 1864. In addition to museum exhibit galleries, the site features the state-certified Shenandoah Valley Tourist Information Center, an Emmy-winning film, “Field of Lost Shoes” shown every hour, and a 300-acre battlefield park preserving the core areas of the battlefield and historic Bushong Farm.
For more information, go to https://www. vmi.edu/museums-and-archives/virginiamuseum- of-the-civil-war/
