National Museum Of Singapore

National Museum Of Singapore
93 Stamford Road

http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/


Opening Hours:
History Gallery: Daily 10am - 6pm, Last Admission at 5.30pm
Living Galleries: Daily 10am - 8pm, Last Admission at 7.30pm

Admission Fees (In SGD $):
$10

Estimated Visiting Duration:
1 - 4 Hours

List Of Star Attractions (Must See):
Rotunda Dome
Singapore History Gallery & Glass Rotunda
In The Mood For Cheongsam: Modernity & Singapore Women

List Of Main Attractions (Good To See):
4 Singapore Living Galleries (Film & Wayang, Photography, Food, Fashion)
7 Sculptures & Visual Arts Pieces (20 Tonnes, Seeds, The Living World, Transformation, Pedas Pedas (Chilli), Contours Of A Rich Manoeuvre, The Building Remembers / Remembering The Building)
National Museum Of Singapore Exterior & Surroundings

List Of Other Attractions (For A Complete Experience):
Glass Passage & Main Colonial Staircase
The Canyon
The Concourse
Goh Seng Choo Gallery: The William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings
10 Years That Shaped A Nation


Tracing The History Of Singapore


(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 6
Visited: Apr-2012


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As the oldest and most well-known museum in Singapore, the National Museum Of Singapore traces the history of Singapore from its founding, till the modern age.

Several noteworthy points of interest stand out in the architectural design of the National Museum Of Singapore. The building is an amalgamation of both old and new. The old is represented by the colonial exterior at the front. Step inside, and immediately, you'll see the beauty of the Rotunda, with its restored stained glass. Climb the colonial staircase, and you'll be standing in the Glass Passage, which allows a view of the Dome.

Venture further in, and you'll come into the Concourse, which links the old section with the new. Also here is the Canyon, with its high walls and ample space.

The National Museum Of Singapore features several permanent exhibitions. The Singapore History Gallery, at the Concourse, is the main attraction here, and traces the history of Singapore. The 'tour' is interactive, as visitors are given an audio headset, which provides an audio commentary as you walk around the various displays. You can choose from 2 paths, an event path which traces well known events, and a personal path, which gives an individual perspective on history.

Stepping into the Singapore History Gallery, the first stop visitors come across is the 360 degree 'Day in the Life of Singapore'. You then descend the spiral ramp to the rest of the gallery. In order, the sections include the 14th Century (and features the Singapore Stone), the Founding of Modern Singapore (with a portrait of Sir Stamford Raffles), Straits Settlement, Crown Colony, Battle of Singapore, Japanese Occupation, Post-War Period, Self-Governance, Merger, and Road to Independence.

The other permanent exhibitions at the National Museum Of Singapore include the Living Galleries of Film & Wayang, Photography, Food, Fashion, and the Goh Seng Choo Gallery which features the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.

Other noteworthy points of interest around include these sculptures:
20 Tonnes (Outside Front, 1st Level),
Seeds (Outside Front, 1st Level),
The Living World (Outside Front, 1st Level),
Transformation (Outside Back, 1st Level),
Pedas Pedas (Chilli) (Outside Back, 3rd Level),
Contours Of A Rich Manoeuvre (Swinging Lamps at the Concourse),
and The Building Remembers / Remembering The Building (Wall of the Concourse).

The current temporary exhibition is In the Mood for Cheongsam: Modernity & Singapore Women, at the Basement's Exhibition Gallery 1. This features the history of Cheongsams, how to make a Cheongsam, and famous Cheongsam wearers in Singapore.

If all the exploring has made you hungry, stop by the Novus Cafe at the Concourse, which offers snacks.

I loved my visit, although I did feel that the Living Galleries were underwhelming, as compared to the History Gallery. If you're planning a visit, do note that ticket prices for admission costs SGD $10, and allocate around 1 to 4 hours for a visit.


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