Blue Star Museums

The Thomas County Historical Society is proud to announce their participation in the Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2016.  Military families will have access to both the Thomas County Museum of History and the Lapham-Patterson House.

“The Blue Star Museums program is a fun, free activity for military families to enjoy during the summer months,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “The program is also a great way for service member families to connect to their new communities, and it can provide a meaningful way for families to reconnect after deployment. The Blue Star Museums program is also a perfect way for the arts community to say ‘thank you’ to our service members and their families for the sacrifices they make on our behalf, every day.”

The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps – and up to five family members. This year, more than 2,000 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa are taking part in the initiative. Museums are welcome to join Blue Star Museums throughout the summer.

Tours are available at the Museum of History Monday-Saturday, 10am to 4pm, Guided and Self-Guided tours available.  Tours are available at the Lapham-Patterson House Friday afternoons from 1pm-4pm and Saturdays from 10am-4pm.   To schedule a visit for a group of 10 or more to either the Museum of History or the Lapham-Patterson House please contact the Museum of History at 229-226-7664 or e-mail history@rose.net.   For more information about vising the Museum and Lapham-Patterson House, please visit www.thomascountyhistory.org .

Leadership support for the national Blue Star Families programming and promotional materials has been provided by MetLife Foundation. The program also provides families an opportunity to enjoy the nation’s cultural heritage and learn more about their new communities after a military move. The complete list of participating museums is available at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.