Get-in-free promotions going on at local museums provide an opportunity to squeeze some affordable - and air-conditioned - art and culture into a hot Labor Day weekend. The deals:
Blue Star Museum Initiative
This program offers free admission for all active-duty military personnel and their families during regular museum hours through Labor Day, Monday. The deal is good for any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 card or a DD Form 1173-1 card - which includes active duty Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard and reserve members. Up to five immediate family members also get in free.
Museums across the state are participating, if you're up for a road trip; Valley-area museums include:
> Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park, 1300 N. College Ave., Tempe. Admission is regularly $5 adults, $4 seniors and kids 12-18. (480) 929-9499 or http://arizonahistoricalsociety.org/museums/tempe
> Arizona Museum for Youth, 35 N. Robson, Mesa. Admission is regularly $7 for everyone age 2 and older. (480) 644-2467 or www.azmuseumforyouth.org
> Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix. Admission is regularly $14 adults, $12 seniors and $11 kids 3-17. (602) 716-2000 or www.azsciencecenter.org
> Challenger Space Center Arizona, 21200 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria. Admission is regularly $8 adults, $7 seniors and military and $5 kids 4-18. (623) 322-2001 or www.azchallenger.org
> The Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. Admission is regularly $15 adults, $13.50 seniors and $7.50 kids 6-12 and students with school I.D. (602) 252-8848 or www.heard.org
> Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. Admission is regularly $10 per adult, $8 seniors and $4 kids 6-17. (602) 257-1222 or www.phxart.org
> River of Time Museum, 12901 N. La Montana Drive, Fountain Hills. Admission is regularly $3 adults, $2 seniors and $1 kids 5-12. (480) 837-2612 or www.riveroftimemuseum.org
> Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St. Admission is regularly $7 adults and $5 students. (480) 874-4666 or www.smoca.org
Target Three for Free
Thanks to a grant from Target, three Mesa museums are free for everyone the first Sunday of each month. This time around, one of them - Mesa Contemporary Arts - happens to be closed for summer break, but the remaining museums are so close you can hit them both in one day - and on foot, if you can stand the heat for a block.
> Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N. Macdonald, Mesa. Admission is regularly $10 per adult, $9 seniors, $8 students 13 and older with school I.D., and $6 kids 3-12. (480) 644-2230 or www.azmnh.org
> Arizona Museum for Youth, 35 N. Robson, Mesa. Admission is regularly $7 for everyone age 2 and older. (480) 644-2467 or www.azmuseumforyouth.org
Museums on Us
Got a Bank of America card? BofA and Merrill Lynch credit or debit card holders get in free Saturday and Sunday at two Valley museums. If you don't have an account, take a friend who does, and go splitsies on the admission you have to pay for. The deal is good the first full weekend of each month through December. Bring a photo I.D. with you.
Participating museums are:
> Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. Admission is regularly $15 per person age 18-64, $13 seniors and $10 kids 6-17. (480) 478-6000 or www.themim.org
> Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. Admission is regularly $10 per adult, $8 seniors and $4 kids 6-17. (602) 257-1222 or www.phxart.org
• Contact writer: (480) 898-6818 or azajac@evtrib.com
alongdaznite posted at 12:10 pm on Fri, Sep 2, 2011.
[sad] Why are museums offering discounts and free admissions to military personnel on LABOR DAY... and not to union members?