Idaho Museum of Natural History to participate in Blue Star Museums

POCATELLO  – The Idaho Museum of Natural History at Idaho State University’s Pocatello campus will join museums nationwide in participating in the 10th summer of Blue Star Museums, a program that provides free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families this summer.

The 2019 program launch on Saturday, May 18, Armed Forces Day, and ending on Monday, Sept. 2, Labor Day. Military can find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

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. First Lady of the United States Melania Trump and Second Lady of the United States Karen Pence are honorary co-chairs of Blue Star Museums 2019.

"We have lots of great things to see at the museum this summer," said Leif Tapanila, museum director, "including a NASA-sponsored exhibit on Exoplanets, a community art and science show about Edson Fichter, and of course the world's most amazing shark, Pocatello's very own Buzzsaw Shark. This is a small way we can give back to the Blue Star families that protect our freedoms and way of life."

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to celebrate the 10th summer of collaborating with Blue Star Families, Department of Defense, and especially the more than 2,000 museums across our nation that make this program possible, “ said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Organizations such as the Idaho Museum of Natural History are providing wonderful opportunities for military families to share a memorable experience together this summer.”