LOGAN – As part of its observance of the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art (NEHMA) at Utah State University will offer free admission to service members and their families throughout the summer of 2026.
The Blue Star Museums initiative is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.
“As our country approaches 250 years of independence, Blue Star Museums provides service members and their loved ones with meaningful opportunities to explore history and spark curiosity,” according to Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “For military families — who often face frequent moves and time apart — these shared museum experiences offer a sense of stability, belonging and connection.”
The free admission program for active duty military members and their families will begin Wednesday, May 27 and continue through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 7.
NEHMA director Katie Lee-Koven explains that Blue Star program will provide military families with the opportunity to see The Lure and Lore of the West exhibition, which celebrates American history in conjunction with America 250 observance.
As an added benefit, NEHMA will be open for special weekend hours on Sunday, June 28 from 6 to 9 p.m., timed to complement a patriotic concert by the Utah State University Alumni Band that evening in the Daines Concert Hall.
The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University fosters engagement with American art from the 20th and 21st centuries, with an emphasis on art in the western United States, to facilitate learning and promote dialogue about ideas important to the people of Utah and the mission of Utah State University.
Regular hours at the NEHMA are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Established by Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts.
The Blue Star Families (BSF) organization is the nation’s largest military and veteran family support group. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered more than $336 million in benefits and impacts more than 1.5 million people annually through an expansive network of chapters and outposts.
Active duty members of the United States military — including the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves – are eligible to benefit from the Blue Star Museums program.
For addition information about the Blue Star Museums program and NEHMA, visit artmuseum.usu.edu or contact Chiara Elwood Sorensen by calling (435) 797-1564.