All of the Smithsonian museums in the area are free to enter (although some have timed entry, so you just need to reserve a free pass) and we use them regularly. And they really are free, it’s not a coy ‘suggested donation’ game, you just walk in and enjoy.
This is not the case with many other museums. But if you want more culture in your life, there are several programs, often linked to libraries, that allow you to access it for free.
Here’s what we know, broken down by state:
Table of contents
- Culture and museum passes
- New York City Culture Pass
- Arizona’s Act One Culture Pass
- Columbus Metropolitan Library Culture Pass (OH)
- Delaware Libraries Museum Pass
- Georgia Public Library Experience Passes
- Discover more Illinois
- Miami Dade Public Library Museum Pass (FL)
- New Orleans Public Library Cultural Pass (LA)
- New Mexico FamilyPass Program
- Seattle Public Library Museum Pass (WA)
- Expired Culture Pass Programs
- Blue Star Museums
- Museums for everyone
- Bank of America museums on us
- North American Mutual Museum Association
Culture and museum passes
There are several areas and states that have a Culture Pass or Cultural Pass program. Others call it a Museum Pass or Museum Adventure Pass. They all work the same way, so I’ll explain the basics, using the New York City program as an example, and then share all the other states and how they might differ.
New York City Culture Pass
The NYC Culture Pass is a program that gives you access to more than 100 cultural institutions in New York City. You need a library card from the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library or New York Public Library. To qualify for a library card, you must be a New York resident, work for a company, or attend a school in New York City.
You then reserve a pass-by date or location, as you would do at the library. You can then print or download your pass and redeem it on site. Passes are released on the first of each month at midnight for the following month (October 1 for November passes).
Here are all organizations participating in the NYC Culture Pass.
Arizona’s Act One Culture Pass
The Arizona Act One Cultural Pass gives you free access to almost 30 museums in the area and can be obtained from your public library (over 200+ participating libraries). The website lists both participating libraries and cultural institutions.
Columbus Metropolitan Library Culture Pass (OH)
The Columbus Metropolitan Library has passes to more than a dozen local cultural institutions, from museums to zoos, gardens and ballet. It even includes tickets to the Columbus Clippers, the minor league Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians (two adults, four children).
The Culture Pass must be reserved in person at a library, but that is possible Search online for availability.
Delaware Libraries Museum Pass
The Delaware Libraries Museum Pass This allows you to reserve one pass per month, up to five per year, and gives you access to 10 local estates, zoos, libraries and museums.
Georgia Public Library Experience Passes
The Georgia Public Library offers experience passes which you can check out just like a book at your local library. An individual or family can only check out each of the passes once every six months. The pass gets you access to 11 area locations, including the Alliance Theater, Shakespeare Tavern, and the Breman Museum.
Discover more Illinois
Discover more Illinois is a broad program that spans multiple library systems in Illinois and gives you access to museums, cultural centers, zoos, gardens, etc. You can have three active reservations at a time.
Miami Dade Public Library Museum Pass (FL)
Floridians with a Miami Dade Public library card can take advantage of the Miami Dade Public Library Museum Pass Program. About twenty locations participate and normally you get access for a family of four. You can check out one pass at a time.
New Orleans Public Library Cultural Pass (LA)
The New Orleans Public Library Cultural Pass is for Orleans Parish residents with a New Orleans Public Library card, and you can reserve passes online (and in person or by phone) to visit 14 area museums and cultural centers. You can only reserve one pass per month per partner organization and this can be made up to 30 days in advance.
New Mexico FamilyPass Program
The New Mexico FamilyPass Program Offered through the State Library and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, it offers free admission for up to people to nearly 30 museums and historical sites in the area. Visit the library and you can pay for the one week pass and only one pass per family at a time.
Seattle Public Library Museum Pass (WA)
The Seattle Public Library Museum Pass gives you free admission to more than a dozen museums, galleries and zoos in the area and you can get it with your library card. You can reserve one pass per calendar month based on your visit date. New passes are available every day after 12:00.
Expired Culture Pass Programs
There are several culture pass programs that ran primarily during the summer and early fall months. I’ve included them below so you can keep an eye out for them next year:
- Greensboro Culture Pass Program (NC) – The Greensboro Culture Pass program was a temporary program that ended in October but gave you access to a dozen local museums and cultural institutions.
- Louisville Cultural Pass (KY) – Youth ages 0 to 21 and their families in the Greater Louisville region will have access to participate in free arts and cultural activities offered by more than 50 locations, May 31 through August 10, 2025.
- Lexington LexARTs Cultural Pass (KY) – free admission to many of Lexington’s arts and cultural institutions for youth grades K-12. The LexArts Cultural Pass is valid for access to participating locations before summer 2025.
- Santa Clara County Discover & Go (CA) – virtual museum pass program for Santa Clara County Library District cardholders, allowing library patrons to reserve tickets to more than 50 museums and cultural attractions in the greater Bay Area.
Blue Star Museums
Blue Star Museums is a program that runs from Armed Forces Day to Labor Day (and therefore returns on May 16, 2026). It gives free admission to active duty military personnel and their families to a very long list of museums, zoos, nature centers and more.
Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May and Labor Day is the first Monday in September.
Museums for everyone
Of Museums for everyoneIf you receive food assistance (SNAP), you can receive free or reduced admission to more than 1,500 museums by showing your EBT card and photo ID. There are hundreds of participating cultural centers.
Bank of America museums on us
Bank of America cardholders, which can be credit or debit cards, will have access to their Museums on Our program. Every first weekend of the month you get free general admission to various cultural institutions in the United States.
There are 237 institutions spread across 39 states (it even includes Alaska, where you can visit the Anchorage Museum!) plus Washington DC. The states not included are Alabama, Hawaii, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming. The list may change, so check to confirm what you have access to and where. You see one full list on the Museums on Us program website.
North American Mutual Museum Association
The North American Mutual Museum Associationor NARM Association, is a program where you become a member of your local museum (at the NARM membership level) and gain reciprocal access to other museums in the NARM network. There are NARM Association museums in Bermuda, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States (yes, PR is in the US, but that’s how they list it).
You can use the complete list of NARM museums for 2025 and it is enormous – more than 1300 participants.
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