The Appleton Museum of Art at the College of Central Florida is joining museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums program.
The program is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and participating museums across America. Now through Labor Day on Sept. 6, free admission is available to currently serving military personnel and their families.
“The Appleton is proud to once again be a Blue Star Museums partner. We reaffirm Marion County’s long history of respectfully honoring all active military members and veterans,” said Jason Steuber, Appleton Museum director. “Alongside our Appleton and CF staff members who are veterans, we are happy to have this program run concurrently with our Community Heroes Free Admission Program, providing free admission to the state of Florida’s first responders, health care professionals, and educators.”
The free admission program includes those currently serving in the United States military — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, as well as veterans, 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. Veterans may present an ID or discharge paperwork.
The Appleton is one of many participating museums that include children’s museums, art museums, history and science museums, zoos, nature centers and more. To find participating museums, locally or during your summer travels, visit arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. in Ocala, east of downtown on State Road 40 (exit 352 east off Interstate 75 or exit 268 west off Interstate 95). Parking is free. For more information, call (352) 291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.