PARKERSBURG — A pair of local museums in Parkersburg and Marietta will be participating in the Blue Star Museums program offering free admission to military families.

In Parkersburg, Discovery World on Market is teaming up with Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law, to sponsor museum admission for military families with participation as a Blue Star Museum.

In Marietta, Campus Martius Museum is participating in Blue Star Museums, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families during the summer.

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 offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.

The 2025 Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 17, and ends on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1. For a list of participating museums, visit arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law, to sponsor museum admission for active-duty military families,” said Wendy Shriver, executive director of Discovery World on Market.

“As a registered Blue Star Museum, Parkersburg will be listed on the map as a destination for military families looking to visit our children’s museum for free this summer,” she said.

“In addition, Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law, is expanding the program to also cover admission for any veteran and their family to Discovery World on Market during this timeframe by showing their credentials,” said Shriver.

“Our veterans mean the world to us, and we are delighted to be able to give back by sponsoring free museum admission for our military families. This is a wonderful museum for children with fun exhibits and educational benefits for all,” said Jan Dils, founder and CEO of Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military – Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. 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.

Campus Martius Museum has three floors of exhibits. Additionally, the original Ohio Company Land Office (1787) and The Rufus Putnam House (1788) are both located onsite. Campus Martius is open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays from noon-5 p.m.