Raleigh's NC Museum of History closing for 2 to 3 years for makeover

The North Carolina Museum of History on Wednesday announced the museum and its exhibits are getting a major makeover.

The N.C. Museum of History is located at 5 E. Edenton St., directly adjacent to the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, which just unveiled a Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit unlike anything in the country.

Third-floor exhibits will close first, on Monday, June 3. The history museum will entirely close to the public on Monday, Oct. 7, but digital experiences will be provided while the museum is redesigned. The museum shop will remain open until Sunday, Dec. 29.

The N.C. Museum of History's last major event before the renovation will be the Longleaf Film Festival, held May 10-11, a celebration of films with a North Carolina connection.

The renovation and museum makeover is estimated to take between two and three years. Few details were provided about the plans, but a news release said the "exciting transformation" will "unveil a dramatic new experience in a few years that will redefine how visitors connect with the vibrant tapestry of North Carolina's past."

According to the museum, the project is made possible through funding authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly and Gov. Roy Cooper.

"We're embarking on an incredible journey, and what awaits us on the other side is nothing short of extraordinary — reimagined exhibits that will bring North Carolina history to life," said Brad Wilson, interim director of the N.C. Museum of History.

The museum, which was established in 1902, has been in its current space in downtown Raleigh since 1994.