The Silver City Museum is one of more than 2,000 museums across America
to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer.

Today the Silver City Museum announced the launch of Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2014.

The Silver City Museum normally offers admission at a suggested donation of $3 per visitor. However, to honor our men and women serving in the nation's armed forces, admission to the Museum will be free for them and their families. The free admission applies to all branches of the military including National Guard and Reserve. Also, new this year, the museum will waive the fees for children of military families to participate in this summer's offerings of children's craft classes.

"We are proud to honor and support our nation's military personnel and their families through our third year of participation in the Blue Star Museums partnership. The staff and volunteers of the museum warmly welcome those serving in the military and their families to explore and participate in this summer's schedule of exhibits and family fun," comments Museum Director Tracy Spikes. "I would also like to invite all who have served to come see our special limited engagement exhibit, Images of Valor: U.S. Latinos and Latinas of World War II."

Leadership support for the Blue Star Museums has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The program provides families and opportunity to enjoy the nation's cultural heritage and learn more about their new communities after a military move. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

The Silver City Museum creates opportunities for residents and visitors to explore, understand and celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of southwestern New Mexico by collecting, preserving, researching and interpreting the region's unique history. For more information about the Museum's programming, please contact staff at (575) 538-5921 or info@silvercitymuseum.org, and visit the Museum's website at www.silvercitymuseum.org.