Blue Star Museum Program Is Back @ Piney Point

(Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park Facebook photo)

The Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, through the Blue Star Museums program, will offer free admission for actively serving members of the armed forces, as well as up to five family members, from Armed Forces Day (Saturday, May 16, 2026) through Labor Day (Monday, September 7, 2026).

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the US 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.

Blue Star free admission is available for those currently serving in the US military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (active duty and reservists), as well as National Guard (regardless of status), US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and NOAA Commissioned Corps—and up to five family members.

Qualified participants must present a Geneva Conventions Common Access Card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entry into a participating Blue Star Museum.

The ID holder may be either an active-duty service member or an eligible dependent family member with appropriate identification. The active-duty member does not need to be present for family members to participate in the program. Spouses of deployed military members are also eligible with appropriate identification.

In addition, on Armed Forces Day only, the museums will extend free admission to retired military members (others in the party, including family members, must pay regular admission).

Please note that retirees and veterans are only eligible for free admission on Armed Forces Day, as the Blue Star Museums program is limited to active-duty personnel.

The museum is at 44720 Lighthouse Road in Piney Point, MD.

The St. Mary’s County Museum Division reminds guests that the Old Jail Museum and Drayden African American Schoolhouse already offer free admission to all.

The St. Clement’s Island Museum is currently closed for reconstruction; however, visitors may call for water taxi information. The water taxi is not included in Blue Star promotion.

Learn more:

St. Clement’s Island Museum: Facebook.com/SCIMuseum

Old Jail Museum & Visitor Center: Facebook.com/TheOldJailMuseum

Piney Point Lighthouse Museum: Facebook.com/1836Light

Drayden African American Schoolhouse: Facebook.com/DraydenSchool