NC Museum of History reopens gallery featuring hands-on activities for kids

The N.C. Museum of History reopened to the public back in September, but its Tar Heel Junior Discovery Gallery remained closed.

The gallery space features lots of kid-friendly activities and displays where kids can learn about the state's history and how historians do their jobs.

And now the space has reopened to the public, the museum announced on Saturday.

"Come enjoy historical projects done by some of North Carolina's most talented students & learn with hands-on activities," the museum tweeted.

The gallery opened about eight years ago and is part of the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association, a statewide program based at the museum that started in 1953 for kids in fourth to twelfth grades.

As I wrote back in 2014 when I featured the space, the gallery at the museum displays award-winning projects - from essays to artwork and more - from junior historians. But it also provides some hands-on activities for kids to learn how history is researched and how they can uncover the past in their own backyard.

The museum at 5 E. Edenton St. is free to visit, but is operating at a limited capacity, requiring face masks for those ages 5 and up and has some modified exhibits.

It's open to the general public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday. Immunocompromised visitors and seniors can visit from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday.