If you’re looking for a cheap date night or a budget-friendly family outing, many museums around the United States and elsewhere in the world offer free museum admission days. Whether you’re exploring a new city or meandering around home, visiting a museum is a fun and interactive way to learn something new. Let’s look at the most common ways to score free museum admission.
Free Museum Admission for Everyone
Some museums, like all of the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C., offer free museum admission all of the time. Other museums offer specific free admission days once a month or more, often during the first week of the month. Also, some free museum days only occur for a few hours in the evening. It depends on the museum.
Free Museum Admission for Locals
Some museums offer specific free museum days for locals only. Proof of residency is required.
Free Museum Admission through Museum Membership Reciprocity
Some museums in the United States offer free admission if you hold annual membership with a partnering museum. For example, if you’re an annual member of a science museum in one state, you may be able to snag free reciprocity admission to a science museum in another state. Free reciprocity admission typically includes general admission only and not special exhibits.
Free Museum Admission for Active Duty Military Families (Memorial Day through Labor Day)
Many museums around the United States offer free family admission for active duty military families from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year through the Blue Star Museums program. The Blue Star Museums program is made possible by a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America.
Special Exhibitions May Not Be Free
Special exhibitions may or may not be included in free museum admission. It depends on the special exhibition. Don’t assume that all special exhibitions are included with your free museum admission. Some special exhibitions require a ticket or a ticket with a specific arrival time. When in doubt, ask the museum if the special exhibition is included.
Who ACTUALLY pays for free museum admission days?
Free museum admission days are typically funded by corporate sponsors and grants. If you enjoy your free visit to the museum, be sure to tell your friends and family about your fun day and pass on some things that you learned. Also consider dropping a few dollars into the museum’s donation box on your way out, if your financial situation allows.