Modern art, classical art. World history, American history, New Jersey history. Airplanes, dinosaurs, medical oddities, giant sculptures. What do all of these things have in common, you ask? Cardholders can see all of them for free with a museum pass from the library.
The Museum Pass Program is popular, but I didn’t realize how popular it is until I looked at the statistics. In 2017 alone, 2,898 museum passes were checked out for use by library cardholders. That means that nearly 3,000 individuals, families, or other groups were able to visit and explore amazing venues throughout the local area, including New York and Philadelphia, for free.
We continually keep an eye out for new and exciting venues to add to our Museum Pass program and the latest addition is the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. This venue opened in April 2017 and is located in historic Old City Philadelphia. Starting on Monday, April 2, library cardholders can visit this new museum to learn more about the beginnings of our nation. The museum explores essential questions and offers perspectives on history. How did people become Revolutionaries? How did the Revolution survive its darkest hour? How Revolutionary was the war? What kind of nation did the Revolution create? When you visit, you can see a replica privateer ship and even see George Washington’s war tent, which served as his office and sleeping quarters throughout much of the Revolutionary War. The library’s museum pass offers free admission for two adults and four youth (ages six to 17).
Another new addition to the Museum Pass Program is the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum in Holmdel. This site honors those from New Jersey who served in the Vietnam War, especially the 1,562 men and one woman who were killed or missing in action. The site includes an outdoor memorial wall as well as a museum. Currently on view in the museum is the exhibit “Soundtrack of a Changing Nation: Music of the Vietnam Era,” which explores the importance and impact of music in the Vietnam era, both in the United States and for the soldiers in Vietnam. The exhibit tells the compelling stories of a handful of New Jersey musicians who served in Vietnam, several of whom were killed in the war. The library’s museum pass offers free admission for two adults. Active military and veterans are always free.
Visit our Museum Pass Program page to explore the 19 venues that are part of our program and decide where to visit next!
The Museum Pass program is made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
(Cover photo by Vincent Tantardini on Unsplash)