The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is joining some of its peers in offering free admission to military members.
After the Two Mississippi Museums – the Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum – announced that they were participating in the 2026 Blue Star Museums program, the state’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks added the science museum to the docket.
The Blue Star Museum program offers free admission to active U.S. military personnel and up to five family members from now until Sept. 7, or Labor Day. Through the program, military families are invited to spend the summer exploring Mississippi’s wildlife, interactive exhibits, scenic trails, and outdoor experiences at the museum and LeFleur’s Bluff State Park.
“We are honored to welcome military families to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science through the Blue Star Museums program,” Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Director Angel Rohnke said. “This initiative is a meaningful way to thank those who serve our country while providing opportunities for families to connect with Mississippi’s natural resources, conservation, and outdoor recreation.”
The museum is currently displaying the “Giants of the Ice Age” exhibit, which runs until Aug. 23, allowing guests to travel back to prehistoric times and encounter the diverse range of animals that inhabited the earth.
The free admission program is available for currently serving members of the U.S. military, including the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, and NOAA Commissioned Corps, along with up to five family members.
For free admission, qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card, DD Form 1173 ID card, DD Form 1173-1 ID card, or the Next Generation Uniformed Services ID card.
