Construction Has Started on Major Renovation at the North Carolina Museum of History

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The North Carolina Museum of History announced today that construction is underway on a transformative renovation at the museum building in downtown Raleigh. The project will expand the building by 40,000 square feet, including 25% more gallery space to showcase additional stories, artifacts, and voices from across the state. The museum is a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Upgrades will include a relocated entrance on the northside of Bicentennial Plaza for improved accessibility, new climate control systems to protect the museum’s 150,000+ artifacts, and critical infrastructure improvements such as leak repairs and a new freight elevator. Additional classrooms, a new restaurant, community spaces, and offices are also part of the expansion. These investments will preserve North Carolina’s history and provide a safe, modern facility for generations to come and ensure the museum can better serve our statewide community. The museum is on track to reopen to the public in 2028.

“This project is about honoring the trust North Carolinians place in us to care for their history,” said C.J. Roberts, director of the Division of State History Museums. “We’re building a space worthy of the stories, artifacts, and traditions that define our state—so they can be preserved and shared for generations to come.” 

The museum continues to remain active statewide since closing its building in October 2024. During the renovation, staff will continue to offer statewide K–12 educational programming, share traveling exhibitions, and host public festivals and events.

The museum renovation received $180 million in funding, authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly. This generous investment from the state of North Carolina will enable the museum to modernize its facilities, enhance the visitor experience, and better serve communities across the state.