Military families have free access to Historic Fort Steuben through Labor Day

STEUBENVILLE -- With its new designation as a Blue Star Museum, Historic Fort Steuben will be open through Labor Day at no cost to all active duty members of the military and their families.

"The idea is that summer is when many families get together and service members have time off, and this will allow them to have quality time together without having to worry about the cost," said Judy Bratten, the fort's director.

Bratten applied for inclusion in the program, which is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, the U.S. Department of Defense and Blue Star Families, a national group formed in 2009 by military spouses to provide support and resources to American service members and their spouses and children.

"Since this fort was built for the military, we feel they should have the opportunity to visit it and see how far things have come," said Bratten.

A recreation of the 1786 fort that provided protection to surveyors of the Northwest Territory, the fort is one of 200 museums of various types and focuses to receive the Blue Star designation this year.

A map and list of all Blue Star Museums -- including David Warther Carvings in Sugarcreek and Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Avella -- can be found at arts.gov/blue-star-museums-map.

Through the program, free admission for up to five family members is available to all members of the military, including the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps.

Bratten added, "As part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, we can help military kids participate in the National Park Junior Ranger program. It's a wonderful experience for the whole family."

Through the program, youth complete a series of activities during their visit and receive a Junior Ranger patch and certificate.

Mayor Jerry Barilla, who also is president of Historic Fort Steuben; and others recently announced plans for a new mural commemorating Steubenville's role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

In 1803 Meriwether Lewis travelled the Ohio River, passing through the city as well as Wellsburg, to meet William Clark in Indiana before starting out on their three-year exploration of lands west of the Mississippi acquired through the Louisiana Purchase.

The new mural will be painted by Pittsburgh artist Kyle Holbrook on the Jefferson County Community Action Council building near the Jefferson County Courthouse.

While announcing the Blue Star designation on Saturday, fort leaders noted the role played by it in establishing a mural honoring Jerome and John "Ellis" Edwards of Steubenville, men who were among a group of Black American World War II pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

Following training at Tuskegee, Ala., Jerome was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron but was killed when his P-40 aircraft crashed during a training mission.

Ellis could have taken a family hardship discharge but continued to serve in honor of his brother and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for shooting down two German fighter planes. Following the war, he went on to fly multiple combat missions during the Korean War.

Bratten noted a volunteer committee led by retired educator Patricia Fletcher raised more than $11,000 for the mural, which can be found on Washington Street between Fourth and Fifth streets.

Bratten and others with Historic Fort Steuben are preparing for a busy summer season, with its series of free weekly summer concerts set to kick off at 7 p.m. May 30 with Beatlemania Magic, a tribute to The Beatles.

On June 1 and 2, the fort will present Ohio Valley Frontier Days, a festival with demonstrations of the skills used by people who lived and worked at the fort, games and activities for children, live music and food.

Admission for non-military visitors to the festival is $7 for adults and $3 for youth, ages 6-12, with children under 6 admitted free.

Bratten noted the fort's visitors center is open through much of the year and includes a variety of displays, including many Native American artifacts and an exhibit on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The center's regular hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Admission to the center is $10 for adults 60 and older, $12 for other adults and $7 for ages 6-12, with children under 6 admitted free. During its regular hours, the center also offers a $40 admission for families consisting of two adults and two children.