Free admission for military personnel and their families from May 17- September 1
The Springfield Museums is pleased to once again participate 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 will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 17, and end on Labor Day, Monday, September 1.
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 National Endowment for the Arts is honored to help connect military service members and their families with their communities through the Blue Star Museums program,” said Mary Anne Carter, Senior Advisor for the National Endowment for the Arts. “Institutions like Springfield Museums offer opportunities for military members to create special memories and connect with our country’s heritage and culture.”
“For 15 years, Blue Star Museums has opened doors for military families to explore, connect, and feel at home in their communities,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. “Thanks to our continued partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and participating museums nationwide, we’re proud to continue this tradition of belonging and enrichment. Museums are more than cultural spaces—they’re places where military families feel seen, welcomed, and celebrated.”
“We feel privileged to offer free admission to active military and their families as an expression of our gratitude,” said Kay Simpson President & CEO of the Springfield Museums. “We are honored to participate in the Blue Star Museums program and to share our vibrant array of exhibitions, programs, and experiences to those who have served and sacrificed for our country.”
This summer, the Springfield Museums offers an impressive slate of special exhibitions that are not to be missed. Highly interactive, each explores art, history, or science in new ways.
Van Gogh for All
Van Gogh for All immerses visitors in the works of the world’s most famous painter. Designed to engage 21st-century audiences in the 19th-century art of Vincent van Gogh, this experientially-rich exhibition uses modern technology and participatory learning to immerse new audiences in Van Gogh’s genius, his personal struggles, and his creative process. Through September 14.
Witch Panic! Massachusetts Before Salem
Discover a time when accused witches walked among us. Forty years before the infamous trials in Salem, fear gripped the small settlement of Springfield, Massachusetts. Neighbors whispered about Mary and Hugh Parsons as rumors simmered for years, exploding into hysteria that eventually consumed the town. Witch Panic! dives into the daily lives of the Parsons, examining the circumstances that led to their 1651 accusation and arrest for witchcraft. May 17-November 2.
A one-of-a-kind immersive exhibition that brings visitors face-to-face with live reptiles and paleontological discoveries that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Explore the real-life animals—past and present—that may have inspired myths and fantasy. Gaze at a gargoyle gecko, linger by a legless lizard, and bond with a bearded dragon. From prehistoric flying reptiles to their modern relatives, this exhibition combines education, interaction, and a touch of magic. May 24-September 14.
In addition to the Springfield Museums, 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.
MassMutual is the season sponsor of the Springfield Museums.