State Museum of Pennsylvania closes until 2029 for historic renovation

Emily Scolnick is a 2026 Dow Jones News Fund intern at the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania has closed until early 2029 as it undergoes a nearly $80 million renovation — the first since its current building opened in 1964. 

The project aims to improve the visitor experience and provide better storage for the museum’s collections and archives. The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission has tasked four Pennsylvania-based construction companies with the work. 

“Awarding these bids marks a pivotal moment in the life of this project,” said Andrea Lowery, the executive director of PHMC. “We are officially transitioning from years of careful planning into the physical work of building tomorrow’s State Museum.” 

Located a block from the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex, the museum chronicles the commonwealth’s role in U.S. history from the American Revolution to the industrial age. 

The museum hosted a community event over the weekend to celebrate the beginning of the project and welcome visitors for the last time until renovations are completed.  

“We’re trying to get downtown to be better, safer, so that we can bring our kids here,” Sen. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) said at the event. “It is going to impact the young lives in the future as it becomes something even more special.” 

The project will renovate the museum lobby, create new event and museum store spaces, and make the building more accessible for visitors. It will also add a new gallery designed to host loaned artifacts and temporary exhibits. 

The PHMC Tower behind the museum will also be renovated, becoming better suited to preserve artifacts with new climate controls and fire protection systems.    

Rep. Nate Davidson (D-Dauphin) said the renovation project will primarily benefit younger generations and their education. 

“I try to be a student of history. I think it’s informative to where we’re going as a commonwealth and as a community,” he said. “Investments like this are so, so important for the next generation so they also learn about where we came from and where we’re going next.”

The renovation plans were guided by public surveys and focus groups, according to the museum’s website.