May 13, 2026
WHO: Those currently serving in the United States Military–Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard–including Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps; and up to five family members. A family member of active duty military may include a spouse, child, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and grandparents.
WHAT: As part of Blue Star Museums, the RMSC is extending its heartfelt gratitude to those currently serving in the United States Military and up to five of their family members, by offering free admission to all three of its locations beginning on Armed Forces Day, May 16, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC),DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum
All year round, The RMSC offers military veterans a $3 off general admission ticket to the RMSC Museum & Science Center and Strasenburgh Planetarium and free admission at the Cumming Nature Center.
For more information, please view the Blue Star Museum FAQs.
WHY: Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and participating museums across America. For a list of participating museums, visit here.
“Museums help military families stay connected—to each other, to their communities, and to the nation they serve,” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “As our country approaches 250 years of independence, Blue Star Museums provides service members and their loved ones with meaningful opportunities to explore history and spark curiosity. For military families—who often face frequent moves and time apart—these shared museum experiences offer a sense of stability, belonging, and connection. By opening doors nationwide, this program ensures they can engage with the arts and history that reflect their sacrifices and strengthen the bonds that hold them together.”
WHEN: Armed Forces Day, May 16, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.
WHERE IS IT HELD:
RMSC Museum & Science Center
657 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium
663 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
RMSC Cumming Nature Center
6472 Gulick Road
Naples, NY 14512
The mission of the RMSC (Rochester Museum & Science Center) is to create a better world through inspiring curiosity, exploration, and engagement across history, science, culture, and the natural world. RMSC includes the Museum & Science Center, Strasenburgh Planetarium, and the Cumming Nature Center in Naples. Offering experiences at the Museum & Science Center with more than 120 interactive exhibits, the Planetarium with a 65-foot dome, and the Nature Center on an 850-acre preserve of wilderness, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration and creates immersive experiences for all ages. The more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of the Rochester Region’s past and present, including its rich history of cultural, social, and technological innovation and its natural history, including fossils, animals, and geological specimens. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is one of the top five most visited attractions serving children and families.
For more information about the RMSC, visit rmsc.org. Connect with us onFacebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
Please contact Lyndsay Compitello if you plan on attending an RMSC event, or would like to receive free admission for a story and/or photography. This ensures that the appropriate personnel will be available on the day of your visit.