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Notes: Alexandria museums to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer

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The Prettyman Hose Reel Carriage at the Friendship Firehouse in Old Town. (Photo via Friendship Fire Company/Facebook)

Historic Alexandria is participating in the Blue Star Museums program, offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families from May 17 to Sept. 1, 2025.

In Alexandria, free admission will be offered at the Alexandria Black History Museum, the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, Carlyle House Historic Park, Friendship Firehouse Museum, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, and Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House.

This marks the 15th year of the program, which brings together the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across the country.

The program kicks off on Armed Forces Day and runs through Labor Day, covering the summer when many families plan their vacations.

The free admission deal is open to current U.S. military personnel and up to five family members. This includes those in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, as well as Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, and NOAA Commissioned Corps members.

Eligible members need to show a Geneva Convention common access card, DD Form 1173 ID card, DD Form 1173-1 ID card, or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card to get in.

For more details and a full list of participating museums, check out arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums.

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  • This is the staff byline for ALXnow, used by editors and other full-time staff. Launched in October 2019, ALXnow is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Alexandria, Virginia.