Press Releases

NEW BEDFORD WHALING MUSEUM JOINS BLUE STAR MUSEUMS PROGRAM

(NEW BEDFORD, MA) – In partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, the New Bedford Whaling Museum is proud to participate in the Blue Star Museums Program, which offers free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families.

Currently, more than 750 museums are part of the program. "We are proud to participate in this worthy initiative in partnership with the NEA, Blue Star Families and many of the nation's leading museums. As a Blue Star Museum, we invite our servicemen and women, currently serving our country, to enjoy the Whaling Museum with their families at no cost. It is a small way we can thank them for their service," said James Russell, museum president.

Blue Star Museums was started as a pilot partnership among Blue Star Families and the National Endowment for the Arts to offer free admission to families with a parent or spouse serving during this time of combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, especially focusing on the approximately 1 million children who have had at least one parent deployed. The program offers these families a chance to visit museums this summer when many will have limited resources and limited time to be together.

Free admission is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card, or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), National Guard and Reserve members, and up to five immediate family members.

For the full list of participating museums, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. The program ends on Labor Day, Sept. 6, 2010.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum is the world's most comprehensive museum devoted to the global story of whales and whaling. The cornerstone of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the Museum is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill in the heart of the city's historic downtown and is open daily. For a complete calendar of events, visit the Whaling Museum online at www.whalingmuseum.org. Join the Museum's online community at flickr.com, facebook.com, Twitter, and blog at www.whalingmuseumblog.org.