Many Minnesota museums will provide free admission this summer to active duty members of the U.S. military and their families. The Blue Star Museums program features 21 Minnesota organizations including the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Walker Art Center.

Some of the organizations, including the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, are free to everyone all the time anyway. The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota, is on the list, but it's closed until October for renovation and expansion.

Started in 2010, the program is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and includes more than 1000 institutions throughout the country. Military personnel will have free access to participating Blue Star museums between Memorial Day (May 30, 2011) and Labor Day (Sept. 5, 2011).

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