Tours of the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City showcase amazing artwork that adorns the building’s halls and ceilings. MoDNR photo by Adam Knaebel.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks is a proud partner of the Blue Star Museum program. While entrance to all of Missouri’s state parks and historic sites is free, some locations may require a fee for museum access or tours. The Blue Star Museums program covers the fees at participating sites for active-duty service members, including those in the National Guard and Reserves, and their families. Service members need only show their military ID at the door.
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of War. Throughout the country, more than 2,000 sites participate in the program each year. The list includes children’s museums, art museums, history and science museums, zoos and nature centers. In 2025, 11 Missouri state parks and historic sites participated in the program.
Plan an Adventure
Battle of Athens State Historic Site in Revere offers visitors a place of peace and serenity where the historic buildings, tree-studded landscape and a mile of Des Moines River frontage creates a perfect place to hike, picnic or camp. The current peace belies the site’s history as the place where the northernmost Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi occurred, when around 500 Union soldiers defended against four times as many pro-Southern state guardsmen. Additionally, archaeological research conducted at the site has uncovered evidence that Native Americans once occupied the area, including an early 19th century Sauk and Fox village that existed long before the historic town was built. The cost of an interpretive tour of the battlefield can be covered through the Blue Star Museums program.
Another example, Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site in Kansas City, illustrates the importance of Benton’s home and his paintings, both of which are preserved at the site. A trip to the home and studio of the renowned painter, sculptor, lecturer and writer offers a glimpse into how the talented Benton lived and worked. During his life, Benton’s home was a center of creative and cultural activity. Political leaders, artists, writers, architects and poets influenced the Benton family’s life and were likewise enriched through their contact with Thomas Hart Benton. The Blue Star Museums program can cover the cost of a guided tour of the home and studio.
A final example is the Missouri State Museum in Jefferson City, where visitors can immerse themselves in Show-Me State history. The museum, located in the state Capitol, houses an impressive collection that represents the state’s natural and cultural history. The museum is responsible for a large collection of approximately 30,000 artifacts and objects from all aspects of Missouri’s cultural and natural history. The collection also includes more than 130 Civil War flags and a large inventory of World War I flags. Visitors can make reservations for a free guided tour of the Capitol.
Partnerships with a Purpose
The Blue Star Museums program requires a collaborative effort for its continued success. One vital partner is Blue Star Families. Created in 2009, this organization helps military families surmount challenges tied to the requirements of active duty; specifically, deployments and frequent relocations. The impact is huge – at least 1 million military families visit Blue Star Museums each year.
Another vital partner is The National Endowment for the Arts, which Congress established in 1965. The Blue Star Museums program is a prime example of the endowment’s purpose: To serve as an independent federal agency as the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide, and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. The endowment advances opportunities for arts participation and practice by fostering and sustaining an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States.
Each winter, the division decides which sites will participate in the program for the coming program season. Destinations are generally selected early in the year, and you can help with the selection process by reaching out to one of Missouri’s 93 parks and historic sites to express your interest. The program’s 2026 season begins Saturday, May 16, and runs through Labor Day.
Missouri’s state parks and historic sites offers our gratitude to our nation’s active-duty service members, and we hope this information is helpful to those planning a Blue Star Museum visit in 2026. Remember, you are always welcome in Missouri’s state parks.
More information about the Blue Star Museums program. To plan your visit to one of 11 participating sites, visit the Missouri State Parks website.
