Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum receives recognition as Blue Star Museum

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum is again being recognized as a Blue Star Museum in 2025.

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families each summer. The program begins on Armed Forces Day in mid-May and ends on Labor Day at the beginning of September.

Typically, more than 2,000 museums across America participate in Blue Star Museums each summer.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard including 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 which will admit the military ID holder and up to five family members. The military ID holder can be either an active-duty service member or another dependent family member with the appropriate ID card. The active-duty member does not have to be present for family members to use the program.

The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum honors active-duty service members and their families year-round with free admission. Veterans and their families also receive a discount to the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum Properties.

For a list of additional participating museums, visit arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.