National Museum of Singapore
Public museum in Singapore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The National Museum of Singapore is a public museum dedicated to Singaporean art, culture and history. Located within the country's Civic District at the Downtown Core area, it is the oldest museum in the country, with its history dating back to when it was first established in 1849, starting out as a section of a library at the Singapore Institution[d] as the Raffles Library and Museum.
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.jpg) Entrance to the National Museum of Singapore | |
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Former name | The Raffles Library and Museum |
|---|---|
| Established | 1887 |
| Location | 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897 |
| Coordinates | 1°17′48.2″N 103°50′55.1″E |
| Type | History Museum |
| Accreditation | National Heritage Board |
| Director | Chung May Khuen[1] |
| Architect | Henry McCallum[a] J. F. McNair[b] W Architects and I.M. Pei[c] |
| Public transit access | CC2 Bras Basah DT21 Bencoolen |
| Website | www |
| Designated | 14 February 1992 |
| Reference no. | 30 |
After several relocations over the next few decades, the museum moved to its current permanent site at Stamford Road in 1887. Between 1993 and March 2006, it was briefly known as the Singapore History Museum, before it subsequently returned to its present name that was first given in 1965. The museum preserves and interprets Singapore's social history, exploring the key events and people that have shaped the nation.
It is one of six national museums in the country; the other five being the two Asian Civilisations Museums at Empress Place Building and Old Tao Nan School respectively, the Singapore Art Museum, Peranakan Museum as well as the National Gallery Singapore. The National Museum of Singapore is also one of the country's national monuments, having been designated as such in 1992 by the National Heritage Board. It is one of the largest museums in Asia.[2] The National Museum of Singapore exhibits sculptures, objets d'art, paintings, drawings, and archaeological finds. Admission to the National Museum of Singapore is complimentary for Singaporean citizens and permanent residents.[3]
History
The museum was established in 1849 by the then Singapore Institution Committee, and is the oldest museum in Singapore, hence its 19th century exterior design. Upon establishment, it was known as the Raffles Library and Museum, starting out as a section of a library at the Singapore Institution[e] before moving to 93 Stamford Road in 1887 after several relocations, where it is currently located.[4] The museum was designated a National Monument of Singapore on 14 February 1992 by the National Heritage Board. Between 1993 and March 2006, it was known as the Singapore History Museum, before it subsequently returned to its present name that was first given in 1965 as the National Museum of Singapore.
Over the decades, the National Museum of Singapore has expanded and undergone various expansions and renovations, with a three-and-a-half-year restoration that was completed on 2 December 2006, and was officially reopened on 7 December 2006 by President of Singapore S. R. Nathan and the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang.[5] Its most recent restoration and upgrading works began in September 2023 with staggered gallery closures, and is slated for a full reopening in October 2026. The museum remains open in the meantime with exhibitions and programmes.[6]
Collection
In 2019, Tang Holdings donated a large collection of Sir Stamford Raffles memorabilia, including 46 holograph letters and his book The History of Java, to the museum.[7]
In 2022, seats from Singapore Airlines's first Airbus A380 were added to the museum's collection.[8] In 2023, a Solari board previously used at Changi Airport's Terminal 2 was added.[9] In 2024, a 1970s Nanyang coffee roasting machine and a 1979 Housing and Development Board lift were added.[10] In the same year, some parts from a decommissioned 1995 SMRT Siemens C651 train that served the North–South and East–West lines (NSEWL) until 2024, such as train doors, seats and map displays were also added to its collection.[11]
Gallery
The museum, c. 1900
The eastern wing of the museum at night
The museum's dome consists of 3,000 zinc fish-scaled tiles and stained glass panels
The museum's concourse
The Singapore Stone, 10th to 14th centuries.
An exhibit on Singapore as a growing port city in during the late 19th century to early 20th century.
Reconstruction of a 19th-century Singapore shop.
The 2025 Once Upon a Tide exhibition on Singapore's maritime history.
Exhibit on World War II.
Personal items found in mass graves resulting from the Sook Ching massacre of 1942 by the Imperial Japanese Army.
