The Smithsonian wants everyone to experience America and is designating Sept. 18 as the day to do it.
The 17th annual Museum Day, designated by Smithsonian magazine, is an opportunity to visit participating museums for free by using online tickets available for users to download.
The event allows museums, zoos and cultural centers all over the country to offer free admission to visitors.
There are seven museums in Southern California participating in Museum Day. They are:
California African American Museum in Los Angeles
Channel Islands Maritime Museum in Oxnard
Dr. Willella Howe Waffle House and Medical Museum in Santa Ana
Flight Path Museum and Learning Center at LAX
Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach
The International Print Museum in Carson
The Santa Ana Fire Museum
Museum Day is also an opportunity to celebrate the reopening of museums after lockdowns and closures during the pandemic. The theme of this year’s Museum Day is Experience America and is an invitation to discover and revisit the country’s diverse cultural history in the safest way possible. Tickets are free for Museum Day, but participating venues will have safety precautions in place for guests to safely enjoy their visits.
“As we begin to feel a sense of normalcy in our day-to-day lives, we are honored to welcome the public back to Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. and New York and museums around the country this Museum Day,” said Amy Wilkins, Chief Revenue Officer at Smithsonian Media. “In a year that has challenged us in unprecedented ways it is our hope that this year’s event serves as a reminder of the people, places and cultural experiences that have the power to unite us all.”
This year’s Museum Day is sponsored by the Quaker Oats Company. Until Sept. 15, Quaker will be running a contest to give away back-to-school prizes that include 100 Smithsonian science kits. Quaker will also offer five grand prizes, virtual Smithsonian museum tours and private Q&A sessions with a museum educator for up to 35 people.
Visit QuakerBacktoSchool.com for more information about the contests.
“At Quaker, we’re committed to nourishing lives and helping individuals reach their fullest potential,” said Kristin Kroepfl, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Quaker Foods North America. “We’re thrilled to join forces with Smithsonian magazine to bring educational experiences to families and students across the country and help foster a limitless appetite for knowledge.”
Visit www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-day-2021/siit for more information about free tickets.
