In collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense, the Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens will offer free admission to military personnel and their families during the summer, according to a press release from Christine Lamberton, museum manager.

The house is participating with more than 2,000 museums across America. The Cape Fear Museum also is listed as a participant in the Blue Star Museums initiative. The program runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year.

The Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens also offers free admission to military personnel all year.

To receive free admission, visitors must present a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps and up to five family members.

A Georgian-style townhouse built on the foundation of Wilmington’s old city jail in 1770 by John Burgwin, a merchant, planter and colonial official, the Burgwin-Wright House is carefully restored and decorated with 18th and early 19th century furnishings. Guided tours are available to visitors Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the final tour of the day beginning at 3 p.m.

Blue Star Museums will share stories through social media this summer, according to the press release. On Twitter (#BlueStarMuse) and Facebook, the Blue Star Blog will detail profiles of participating museums, stories about military families and suggestions for visitors.

For a map and more information about participating museums, go to www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

Museums interested in participating in the Blue Star Museums program can contact [email protected] or Wendy Clark at (202) 682-5451.