Museum part of Blue Star program

This summer, Hot Springs County Museum will provide free admission for active duty military personnel and their families, as they are part of the Blue Star program which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Pete Coggi with the museum explained he heard of the Blue Star program through a website, http://www.arts.gov, and decided to sign up for it.

He noted the website did not solicit the museum to join the program, and no funds were exchanged. The sole interest of the museum, he said, is to serve those who are serving their country.

The museum has always had a policy of allowing military members in for free, Coggi said, but through Blue Star that courtesy now extended to their families.

He said it is a great benefit for those who are deployed, as it means their spouses and children can still visit the museum at no cost.

Coggi hoped to get signed up with the program earlier, in order to get into the directory of Blue Star museums sent out to military personnel.

Many people might not think to come to Thermopolis specifically for the museum, but they are coming for other attractions in town, or are on their way to Cody, so museum staff try to have things that are fun to do such as scavenger hunts. There is also plenty to take in on both the upper and lower levels.

Though limited by staffing, he said they really want to make the museum so people find history fun.