Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve. The 2023 Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 2023 and ends on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2023. More details at https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums.
Participating San Diego CountyMuseums Include:
Find other Active Duty and Veteran Discounts Here
Museums for All (free or reduced admission throughout the year)
Before visiting a museum, please call or check their website to see if they are open or require advance registrations. Many museums are offering virtual resources—check your local museum’s website for more information.
Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 700 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card. Search here to find a participating museum near you!
Barona Cultural Center and Museum
Birch Aquarium at Scripps (La Jolla)
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
Mingei International Museum (Balboa Park)
Marston House Museum and Gardens
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (Downtown)
Museum of Contemporary Art La Jolla
Museum of Making Music (Carlsbad)
Over Twenty San Diego County Museums are Free Year-round for the Whole Family.
These museums offer free admission or have a donation-based admission policy that doesn’t charge a fixed admission fee but looks to your generosity to help make them accessible to all in our community.
Free Year Round
Barona Cultural Center & Museum
Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
Coronado Historical Association
Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center
Institute of Contemporary Art Central (Balboa Park)
Institute of Contemporary Art North (Encinitas)
Junipero Serra Museum
La Jolla Historical Society
La Mesa Depot Museum
Lemon Grove Parsonage Museum
MCRD Command Museum
Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum
Mingei International Museum (First Floor)
Museum of Photographic Art (MOPA)
New Americans Museum
San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art (Museum without Walls)
San Diego History Center
Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
Timken Museum of Fine Art
Visions Museum of Textile Art
Women’s Museum of California
Balboa Park’s Residence Free Days
Balboa Park has Residents Free Days. Park museums offer free general admission on a rotating basis throughout each month to residents of the City and County of San Diego, and to active military personnel and their dependents. Find the details at here.
Please be prepared to present a photographic ID with your address.
First Tuesday
- Fleet Science Center
- San Diego Natural History Museum (Not valid for films)
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Second Tuesday
- San Diego Air & Space Museum (Not valid for special exhibitions)
- The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park
Third Tuesday
- San Diego Museum of Art (Not valid for special exhibitions)
- Japanese Friendship Garden
- Mingei International Museum
Fourth Tuesday
- San Diego Automotive Museum
- The Comic-Con Museum (Not valid for “Beyond Amazing: Spider-Man – The Exhibition.” This special exhibit is an extra charge)
Fifth Tuesdays
- Regular admission prices are in effect
Discover & Go
Visit San Diego attractions for FREE with the San Diego Public Library’s Discover & Go program. The program offers family day passes to several of San Diego’s biggest attractions, including the New Children’s Museum, Museum of Us, The San Diego Museum of Art, Children’s Discovery Museum and Skateworld! Passes can be reserved online, in-person or over the phone with a valid library card. Reserve passes today and discover what San Diego has to offer! Find out more here.
Includes These Museums
Coronado Historical Association
JA Cooley Museum
La Jolla Historical Society
Marston House Museum & Gardens (SOHO)
Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA)
Museum of Us
New Children’s Museum
San Diego Archeological Center
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
San Diego Museum of Art
San Diego Zoo
