Popular Raleigh museum is planning a 3,000-square-foot expansion. Take a look inside
One of Raleigh’s most popular museums will soon undergo a major renovation.
Marbles Kids Museum, which opened downtown in 2007, is fundraising for the upcoming project, the largest expansion in the museum’s history.
“Marbles needs more space to accommodate families in our community,” museum CEO Jonathan Frederick said in a news release. “We estimate that each year we turn away over 70,000 visitors due to capacity limits and sold-out programs.”
The 3,000-square-foot addition will provide several spaces for learning and play, and work will also bring improvements throughout the interior and exterior of the museum.
See renderings, courtesy of the museum, of what the space should look like when construction is complete.
Here’s what we know about the expansion.
New exhibits coming to Marbles Kids Museum
Part of the construction will include an addition of 3,000 square feet of public-facing space:
- The new “Futuropolis” exhibit to be located on the first floor will teach kids about in-demand careers and industries in North Carolina through hands-on play.
- The Marbles Skyway, located on the rooftop, will include a kid-sized racetrack for outdoor play.
- The Think Tank, a new multipurpose classroom, will expand educational programs, field trips and camps.
“This expansion will enable us to welcome an additional 108,000 visitors each year to experience the power of play,” Frederick said in the release. Before joining Marbles, Frederick worked as the director of the NC Science Festival at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for more than a decade, The News & Observer previously reported.
The museum currently serves about 500,000 people annually, according to the release.
Along the facade facing Blount Street, Marbles plans to add “bright colors, modern design and playful public art.”
Other improvements to the museum that will be funded through the “Bigger Play, Brighter Futures” fundraising campaign are new restrooms, a refresh of multipurpose spaces, better visitor flow and enhanced accessibility.
The fundraiser is also focused on creating the Marbles Impact Fund, a new investment fund to support Marbles’ sustainability and accessibility and provide long-term resources to meet community needs.
Who is funding the the museum’s expansion?
The museum, which was recently named by USA Today one of the best children’s museums in the U.S., has already raised about $8.5 million through contributions from Wake County ($2.72 million), the Conlon family, First Citizens Bank, North State Bank and other donors.
Now it is turning to the public to raise an additional $500,000 to meet its campaign goal and deliver the improvements in 2026.
When will construction begin?
Renovation work is expected to begin in late 2025, according to the press release.
Will the museum stay open during construction?
Good news for would-be museum visitors: Marbles plans to remain open throughout the construction.
Marbles is located at 201 E. Hargett St. in Raleigh. It opens at 10 a.m. daily, Tuesday-Sunday, and is closed Monday. Members may enter the museum early, at 9 a.m.
Advance purchase of tickets is recommended. Visit marbleskidsmuseum.org to purchase tickets.
Children’s museums in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill
The only other dedicated children’s museum in the Triangle is Kidzu Children’s Museum in Chapel Hill.
However, many other museums in the area, such as the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh and Durham’s Museum of Life and Science, offer kid-friendly exhibits and activities.
This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 9:27 AM.
