The Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU Texas announced its participation in the ninth annual Blue Star Museums program, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America. These museums offer free admission to the nation's active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Although the WFMA does not charge admission fees, it is proud to be a Blue Star Museum to express appreciation to military personnel for their service and to share its cultural treasures. Blue Star Museums also provides a way for military families to feel connected to their community, especially for those families who have recently relocated through a change of station.

This year's Blue Star Museums program welcomes many new participating museums, such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in Indiana and the GulfQuest National Maritime Museum in Mobile, Alabama. These museums will join longtime participants such as the Plains Art Museum in Fargo, North Dakota, the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., and the New Children's Museum in San Diego, California.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, as well as active duty and reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members.

The program runs from May 26 through Labor Day, September 3. Nationwide, Blue Star Museums include children's museums, fine art museums, history and science museums, zoos, and nature centers.

WFMA hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.