Ahead of potential violence, downtown Raleigh museums close

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, N.C. Museum of History and Marbles Kids Museum all are temporarily closed.

Posted 11:17 a.m. Jan 17, 2021 — Updated 2:23 p.m. Jan 17, 2021

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

RALEIGH, N.C. — Both the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the N.C. Museum of History are closed through Wednesday because of concerns about potential violence at state capitols ahead of President elect-Joe Biden's inauguration.

Marbles Kids Museum's website also says it is temporarily closed through 10 a.m., Jan. 22, but doesn't say why.

"We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming you back soon," Marbles' website says.

In Facebook posts on Saturday, the state museums shared that they would be closed along with other state government facilities in downtown Raleigh.

Wake, Raleigh closing downtown offices as precaution against inauguration protests

"As recommended by public safety officials, state government facilities in downtown Raleigh, including NCMNS, will be closed through Wed., Jan. 20," says the natural sciences museum website.

The history museum's Facebook page says the same thing. "As recommended by public safety officials, state government facilities in downtown Raleigh, including the North Carolina Museum of History, will be closed through Wed., Jan. 20," it reads.

The FBI is warning of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington, D.C., in the days leading up to Biden's Wednesday inauguration.

Although an armed protest isn't confirmed in Raleigh, concerns are increasing in downtown. According to a flier distributed on social media sites, there are plans for marches to take place in Washington, D.C., as well as across the country.

There doesn’t appear to be one organizer, but rather, it's a call for action for a mass armed march.

Gov. Roy Cooper has mobilized hundreds of members of the North Carolina National Guards to provide security in the coming days in the Tar Heel State and in the nation's capital.

Cooper mobilizes National Guard for duty

About 350 guardsmen will serve, beginning this weekend, in support of local law enforcement in North Carolina. Hundreds more will be sent to Washington, D.C.

“Ongoing security concerns in Washington, D.C., and state capitals around the nation following last week’s attack on the U.S. Capitol must be taken seriously, and I will deploy necessary resources to keep North Carolinians safe," Cooper said.

Some downtown Raleigh businesses have already boarded up their storefronts ahead of the possible protests.

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