John Mark Verdier House, a Blue Star Museum, Free Admission Military & Their Families

Historic Beaufort Foundation’s John Mark Verdier House, built ca. 1804, will join museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to U.S. military personnel and their families.

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 museums across America, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve starting Armed Forces Day in May through September 1. 

Historic Beaufort Foundation is proud to honor this tradition not just May to September, but year-round. HBF has expanded its program to include retired military, Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins said.

“Historic Beaufort Foundation strongly supports our military and we understand how important the military has been to Beaufort throughout our history, especially the Marine Corps,” she said. “The Blue Star Museums initiative is one way we try to give back.”

A list of participating museums can be found at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

Blue Star Museums include children’s museums, art, science, and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses, and more, and hail from all 50 states, District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The current list of participating museums will continue to develop over the summer as organizations are welcome to 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.

 

Active-duty military and their families and retired military receive free admission year-round to the Verdier House, Jenkins said.