The ceiling of the Marion Natural History Museum unexpectedly collapsed on Monday, July 23.

There were no injuries.

The incident happened early on Monday, said Town Administrator Paul Dawson. Although the reason for the collapse is not yet known, Dawson said that town officials are currently investigating the incident.

The museum is on the second floor of the Elizabeth Taber Library on Spring Street.

Dawson said the Library will remain closed for the time being while clean-up crews remove debris left from the collapse of the 50’ by 50’ plaster ceiling.

The age of the 150-year-old building  may have played a part in the collapse, Dawson said.

The last major construction at the library was done in 1982.

Depending on the evaluations of engineers, Dawson said the library could be reopened as early as Thursday, July 26.

“We are not concerned at all about any further collapse into the library area,” he said.

“Hopefully, we’ll get things operating as soon as possible.”

With the clean up underway, Dawson added that most of the museum’s artifacts were recovered from the debris.

“They were able to remove many of the important artifacts. We don’t have an account of how many artifacts were damaged, but the most historically significant items were removed,” he said.

Items such as 10,000-year-old Native American artifacts, which were recovered, will be stored at the town-owned YSI building on Atlantis Drive until repairs are completed.

The museum’s summer programs for kids are also being held at the YSI building and at Silvershell Beach.