Downtown Raleigh’s longtime destination for Tar Heel history is now closed for a major overhaul. Demolition barriers, scaffolding and construction equipment surround the North Carolina Museum of History as crews begin transforming the landmark into a larger, climate-controlled facility that is not expected to reopen until 2028. The closure has reduced foot traffic along Bicentennial Plaza while workers modify the interior and foundation to expand space and improve long-term preservation of the state’s artifacts.
The renovation will tack on roughly 40,000 square feet, including about 25 percent more gallery room, plus classrooms, community spaces, a new restaurant, upgraded climate systems and improved freight access, according to the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The work is funded by a $180 million appropriation from the General Assembly, and officials say the museum is still on track for a 2028 reopening. That target lines up with the two to three year construction window announced when the building closed in October 2024…