Access Program for Low-Income Families

Museums for All

Maritime Museum of San Diego Announces Access Program for Low-Income Families Museums for All to Increase Accessibility of High-Quality Museum Learning Resources

Museums for AllSAN DIEGO, CA – Today Maritime Museum of San Diego announced that starting July 1, 2023, it has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. The program supports those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits visiting Maritime Museum of San Diego for a minimal fee of $3.00 per person, up to four people, with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card and photo ID. Similar free and reduced admission is available to eligible members of the public at more than 850 museums across the country. Museums for All is part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s broad commitment to seek, include, and welcome all audiences.

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According to Raymond Ashley, Ph.D., K.C.I., President/CEO for the Maritime Museum of San Diego, “The sea connects all things and all people. This is the essential quality of the human experience of the sea across time. With this narrative as the heart of our subject, our stories draw upon a vast and diverse spectrum of peoples and cultures. As we strive to be ever better purveyors of those stories, in our workplace we also strive to model and indeed celebrate the triumph of the human spirit, incredibly diverse in background, and embodied in the ships we preserve, where every member of the crew performs an essential function on which the lives and welfare of all depend. Dr. Ashley also emphasized that “the mission of the Maritime Museum of San Diego is to serve as the community memory of our seafaring experience by collecting, preserving, and presenting our rich maritime heritage and historic connections with the Pacific world. We believe that memory is best projected when lived and pursued in the spirit of dignity and respect in which diversity, inclusion, and equity are not just words, they are values that the sea ever requires, and, the means by which we aspire to become worthy chapters in the stories we tell.”

Museums for All helps expand access to museums and also raise public awareness about how museums in the U.S. are reaching their entire communities. More than 850 institutions participate in the initiative, including art museums, children’s museums, science centers, botanical gardens, zoos, history museums, and more. Participating museums are located nationwide, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Association of Children’s Museums (ACM)
The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) champions children’s museums worldwide. With more than 460 members in 50 states and 16 countries, ACM leverages the collective knowledge of children’s museums through convening, sharing, and dissemination. Learn more at childrensmuseums.org.

About the Maritime Museum of San Diego
The Maritime Museum of San Diego experience includes admission to a world-class collection of historic sailing ships, steam-powered boats, and submarine, each offering entertaining and educational exhibits. The 501c3 non-profit Museum enjoys an international reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining, and operating historic vessels including the world’s oldest active sailing ship, Star of India. Maritime Museum of San Diego is ranked as one of the nation’s top attractions offering self-guided tours, docent guided-group tours, tall ship charters, year round public events, educational programs, and a distinctive venue for corporate/private events. The Museum is open daily along Star of India Wharf at 1492 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101-3309.