Museum Associations.....

[WTMindy]

We bought a membership to our local science museum and it is a part of the ASTC groups. This has gotten us into museums all over for free. It is cheap to buy our membership here. What other associations are there and are there cheaper places to buy them?

Thanks!

[Caroline]

Our zoo is associated with other zoos, although sometimes it is only a discount at the other zoos. I thought it was funny that they listed the National Zoo as one you could get in free with the membership. The Nationals Zoo is free to everyone!

[WTMindy]

THanks! Any others?

[JWSJ]

Yes, we have the same membership and go to museums for free all the time.

Before vacations we look up museums that accept our reciprocal memberships.

We do art, science, and children's museums.

[WTMindy]

Is there a name for the association of art museums or the children's museums?

[angela in ohio]

Is there a name for the association of art museums or the children's museums?

I think most children's museums are in the same association as science museums. I have never seen an art museum association, but that would be nice.

We also join our state historical society; that gets us into many sites for one yearly price.

[K&Rs Mom]

We do the zoo membership too, and it's been great. On our zoo's website (and many others) they have a list of reciprocal members. So maybe if there's someplace you want to visit, you can browse online and see if they are connected with any others?

I know the Chicago museums all do free days a few times a year, and a friend has gone and said it really wasn't very busy. Most of those are listed on the individual museum's websites also.

[Cathy in IL]

I got a membership at the Boston Children's Museum this year. It is a part of both the Association of Science Museums and the Association of Children's Museums. I have never been to Boston and have no plans to go anytime soon, but it was the least expensive membership that would be reciprical with all the museums I wanted. I don't get a membership locally because it is not honored by all the museums within 90 miles. If you join a museum that is not near your home, then you can get into the museums near your home for free.

[Brenda in FL]

Even though I don't live in Ohio, last summer I joined the Boonshoft Museum for $100 and it included science museums, zoos, and children's museums! I was able to register online. www.boonshoftmuseum.org

I was going to join an out of town museum anyway, because when you buy a local membership you only get a 50% discount for other area museums (same goes for zoos, children's museums).

I was very excited to get this membership for all 3 associations at such a reasonable price!

Hope this helps someone!

[Brenda in FL]

Children's museums are with the ACM reciprocal program. www.ChildrensMuseums.org

In my experience, science museums and children's museums have seperate reciprocal agreements. (That's why I love the Boonshoft membership - it includes both!)

[Mom2legomaniacs]

Ours is really cheap (I think 35 per year for the family). And it is part of a network that gets us in to a lot of places (ones that are a lot more expensive -- like Huntsville Space and Rocket Center for one example). It's a great deal. I think ours is part of the same network as yours ASCT passport program.

[Susan M in WA]

We became members of this place even when we did not live nearby. The annual membership is $60 for a family and it gives reciprocal entrance fees to both zoos and science museums (as well as some aquariums - but not the major ones)

http://www.wildwnc.org/

[WTMindy]

We used ours last year to go to the Huntsville museum. That place was great!!