The National Museum of Singapore was opened in 1849 making it the country’s oldest museum. It originally started as a new section of the Singapore Institution’s library (and was then known as the Raffles Library and Museum) but was eventually moved to its current location on Stamford Road in 1887. In 1965 the museum was officially named the National Museum of Singapore, and the name has been used ever since except for a few years between 1993 and 2006, when it was called the Singapore History Museum.
The museum is home to eleven National Treasures, all of which can be found on display. There are several permanent displays like the Singapore History Gallery, and a series of Singapore Living Galleries on a variety of subjects such as food, fashion, and photography; as well as a series of temporary exhibits. Visitors should note that while they are allowed to photograph the exhibits they are prohibited from using a flash. Filming is also not allowed. Visitors have to buy a ticket to enter and discounts are offered for students and families.
Free guided tours are available in several languages including English, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.
However, only fifteen people can take the tour at a time and allotments are given on a ‘first come first served’ basis. The museum is considered a ‘must visit’ and will give tourists interesting insights into the island’s storied past. Singapore has three other national museums that are worth visiting. They are the Singapore Art Museum, and both the Asian Civilisations Museums located at Old Tao Nan School and Empress Place Building.
Singapore is a small island nation located below the southern tip of Malaysia. It is a regional hub for commerce and entertainment. The island is a highly popular South Asian tourist destination and has excellent infrastructure. Accommodation is plentiful and comes in a variety of price ranges, although tourists should think of making their Singapore hotel reservation well in advance. Popular hotels like Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore fill up fast. This Singapore city centre hotel is conveniently located close to many of the island’s best restaurants and shopping centres and is the ideal place to stay at.
