The North Carolina Museum of History announces a statewide community engagement initiative in preparation for its upcoming redesign. As the museum gears up for this significant renovation, it seeks to involve residents from all corners of the state, inviting their input on how North Carolina’s layered history should be presented to future visitors. This engagement process will kick off this summer and will span nearly a year, focusing on collecting stories and perspectives from diverse communities.
To facilitate the renovation, the third-floor exhibits will close on June 3, 2024, followed by the closure of the first-floor exhibits and the main museum building on October 7, 2024. The Museum Shop will remain open until December 29, 2024. The renovation, expected to take two to three years, promises to deliver an in-depth journey into North Carolina’s history, supported by funding from the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor Roy Cooper.
Throughout this period of transformation, the museum will maintain its dedication to education and public engagement. Students and educators statewide will continue to have access to extensive digital resources, ensuring a seamless continuation of learning. Additionally, the public can anticipate a range of virtual programs and live events across North Carolina, along with enhanced online services that will offer immersive digital exhibit tours.
Museum staff and community partners will be traveling across North Carolina to host a variety of engagement activities, including small group conversation circles, large group public discussions, and one-on-one meetings. This phased approach is designed to create an updated and dynamic home for the stories, artifacts, and exhibits that celebrate North Carolina’s rich history.
Preparing for Engagement
- To guide these conversations, museum staff have crafted a set of core questions to present to communities statewide. Sample questions include:
- What are some events or moments in history that are key to understanding your community’s history in North Carolina?
- Who are some of the people that you think should be remembered at the state history museum – whose stories should be told there?
- Can you share a story that your community tells about origins, beginnings, or ancestors?
Statewide Engagement: Summer and Fall 2024
In late summer and early fall of 2024, museum staff will spend four weeks visiting communities throughout the state, hosting workshops, group sessions, conversation circles, and meetings with community advisors. There will also be a series of virtual small-group sessions with participants from across North Carolina.
Statewide Engagement: Winter and Spring 2025
Engagement efforts will continue into 2025 with a statewide survey and additional small group sessions and conversation circles. Plans for long-term community engagement at the museum are also being developed.
Founded in 1902 as the Hall of History, the museum has been located at 5 East Edenton Street in downtown Raleigh since 1994. After thirty years, the time has come for a significant revitalization, underscoring the museum’s dedication to preserving and celebrating North Carolina’s heritage.
Current Opportunities
Don’t miss out on current opportunities to engage with the museum’s existing exhibitions, live music events, and programs. As construction progresses, be sure to explore the museum’s extensive online offerings and in-person events happening statewide.