1. National Museum of Singapore
  2. national museum of singapore
    Photograph: Vernon Raineil Cenzon on Unsplash
  3. national museum of singapore
    Photograph: David Kubovsky on Unsplash
  • Things to do
  • City Hall

National Museum of Singapore

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Time Out says

Formerly known as the Singapore History Museum, the oldest museum in Singapore is now known as the National Museum of Singapore – after a $118 million refurbishment and branding. Its history dates back to 1849 when it opened on Stamford Road as the Raffles Library and Museum. It goes without saying, then, that The National Museum of Singapore is the best place to go to learn about the intriguing story of our nation. 

Your first stop should be the museum's permanent collections. Draw inspiration from the practice of belayar (voyage) in the Malay Archipelago during the 19th century at A Voyage of Love and Longing, which invites visitors to re-trace the complex emotions at its different points, from departure to return, through the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings. The Singapore History Gallery shouldn't be missed by all history buffs. The gallery traces the history of Singapore from its beginnings in the 14th century to the present day.

Fan of teamLab should head to the Glass Rotunda to experience Story of the Forest, an immersive installation that transforms 69 drawings from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings into three-dimensional animations. Framed by the natural foliage of Fort Canning, the Glass Rotunda stands as a modern architectural response to our museum’s 19th-century neo-Palladian Rotunda, which has existed since the institution’s opening in 1887.

The main gallery is jam-packed with objects and film footage, accompanied by no less than seven hours of audio narrative, explanations, dramatisations and soundscapes. National Museum of Singapore is also the backdrop of a dynamic range of events throughout the year – from Doraemon's Time-Travelling Adventures in Singapore and festivals such as the Singapore Night Festival to performances and film screenings. This is in addition to presenting exhibitions involving historically and culturally important collections of artefacts.

There is also something for everyone of all ages at the local museum. Drop by the newly opened space Reunion, a social space for seniors with integrated activities to encourage meaningful interactions and promote cognitive engagement.

The museum's architecture is one to behold, too – making the perfect backdrop for your pictures or videos. Its facade boasts neo-classical features contrasted by new modernist extensions of glass and metal. 

Details

Address
93 Stamford Rd
Singapore
178897
Opening hours:
Daily 10am-7pm
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What’s on

Play:Date - Unlocking Cabinets of Play

If your kids are digital natives whose playtime involves devices, prepare to snatch them away from their tech and bring them for a playful romp around town. Centred around elements of play, the National Museum of Singapore’s newest exhibition, Play:Date – Unlocking Cabinets of Play, features over 250 locally and globally recognisable toys spanning the eras. Running from now until January 5, 2025, the free showcase promises to be eye-opening for both children and adults. Photograph: National Museum of Singapore As part of the Museum’s Collecting Contemporary Singapore initiative, the showcase aims to recognise toys and play as important to Singapore’s cultural heritage. From the moment you arrive at the museum, it immerses you in a world of imagination and nostalgia. Along the building’s facade are five large-scale artworks by five local artists that have both interactive and tactile elements. Even stepping into the museum through the tunnel entrance is an awe-inducing experience brought on by the kaleidoscope projection of digital toy figurines on the walls, designed by local artist Lioncolony. The highlight is an immersive showcase that provides the perfect opportunity for children to explore toys of yesteryear and for adults to reminisce about their childhood. The showcase is divided into three main sections: ‘It’s A Small World’, ‘Drive-Through Time’, and ‘Batteries Included’.  Photograph: National Museum of Singapore  Kicking off the showcase is ‘It’s A Small World’, feat

  • Exhibitions

Story of the Forest

From the same people behind Future World, this art installation brings to life sixty-nine works from the William Farquhar Collection of National History Drawings within the museum’s Glass Rotunda. Look forward to roving animals, digital flora and seasonal weather in an expansive forest created by Japanese digital art collective teamLab, which seamlessly unfolds into a a virtual and visual landscape, immersing visitors in the story of Singapore's journey from its colonial past to its present-day modernity.

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