The Staten Island Children's Museum Is A Blue Star Museum!

The Staten Island Children's Museum will once again proudly participate in the Blue Star Museums program this year, offering free admission to active and reserve military personnel and their families from Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 26, until Labor Day, Monday, September 3.

Blue Star Museums is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums nationwide, including children's museums, fine art museums, history and science museums, zoos, and nature centers. Military can find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

Special Military Appreciation Programs at the Children's Museum
Over Memorial Day weekend, the Children's Museum will be honoring the United States 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Visitors will learn about Daniel K. Inouye, U.S. Senator from Hawaii, and his participation in the Combat Team, which was composed of all Japanese soldiers during WWII. Children will also be able to create their own Purple Heart, Distinguished Service and Bronze Star medals in a special Walk-In Workshop on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

Throughout July, the Children's Museum will recognize those serving in America's military with a month of special programs and events, including ShopRite Kidz Cook Friday afternoon sessions and the Weekend Art Studio. The Museum will also host a letter-writing session where children can send a note of thanks to a service member. There will be a special workshop where visitors can learn about the Tuskegee Airmen while creating airplane "nose art" inspired by these Red Tail Flyers from WWII.

Blue Star Museums Admission Information
The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military-Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as Active Duty and Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), 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), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

"We are proud to once again participate in the Blue Star Museums program and recognize the service of our military members and their families," said Dina Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Children's Museum. "We look forward to welcoming these special guests to a robust summer of programs."

About the National Endowment for the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America's rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. Visit arts.gov to learn more about NEA.

Blue Star Museums is one of the NEA's programs that support military personnel and their families. Others include Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network and grants awarded to nonprofit organizations to support projects that reach military and veterans.

About the Staten Island Children's Museum

The Staten Island Children's Museum is located on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm during the school year; 10:00 am to 5:00 pm weekends, summers and most public school holidays. For more information, call 718-273-2060, email info@sichildrensmuseum.org, or visit our website, www.sichildrensmuseum.org.

The Staten Island Children's Museum is housed in a building owned by the City of New York and its operation is made possible, in part, with public funds provided through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs with support from the Staten Island delegation to the NYC Council. Significant operating support is also provided by the NYS Council on the Arts, Corporations, Foundations, the Trustees and Members.