Delve into Singapore’s history at National Museum of Singapore’s newly revamped Singapore History Gallery starting 10 October 2026. Fresh from a three-year revamp, visitors can make their way through more than 700 years of Singapore’s history beginning with Singapore Odyssea.
Learn and refresh your knowledge about Singapore’s past from the 14th century to the present and through the experience understand more about your identity.
The reopening of Singapore History Gallery also coincides with the Museum’s 139th anniversary, which marks the completion of the three-year restoration project.
Singapore History Gallery at National Museum of Singapore
Singapore History Gallery now boasts of a highly immersive experience, with multimedia experiences and hands-on touchpoints awaiting visitors along with artefacts and storytelling.
It has been updated to reflect new research and presents rich narratives that in my opinion make the gallery experience even more family-friendly.
The key question to visitors would be “Who are we?” It examines how Singapore’s identity has been shaped over time in relation to the region and the wider world, through the lens of multiculturalism.
Broad historical milestones are connected with personal, lived experiences with voices from eyewitnesses, descendants to writers, artists and curators.
Start your journey with Singapore Odyysea, an interactive prelude on Singapore’s key milestones and myths before entering the Gallery.
There is also an expanded chronology that elaborate on post-war Singapore with new content on the 1980s and subsequent decades. To fully enjoy Singapore History Gallery, I do think at least two hours should be set aside for the visit.
Say Your Piece: Voice Input Stations
Look out for voice input stations throughout the Gallery and record your reflections in response to a question relevant to the theme of the section.
What drew people to Singapore’s shore in its earliest days? What does it mean to belong to a city that never stands still?
The stations offer a moment of pause amid the journey. All the contributions will come together in the Gallery’s concluding experience which carries visitors from Singapore’s past into its future.
Seven Sections at Singapore History Gallery
Section One: Fluid Beginnings 1300s to 1800s
Upon arriving at this section, get greeted by a multimedia projection on early Singapore becoming a busy trading port. This was how Singapore was connected to the wider region and beyond through trade, migration and cultural exchange.
One key highlight of this section is the story of the Singapore stone.
A large boulder once stood at the mouth of the Singapore River. In 1843, it was blown up by the British, and what remains is the fragment on display. Now commonly referred to as the Singapore Stone, it is the oldest surviving local artefact bearing an inscription of written text.
Dating between the 10th and 14th centuries, the stone features writing in Kawi, a script used during that period across the Malay world for royal, religious, literary and legal texts.
Although the inscription itself remains undeciphered, the fragment provides evidence that early Singapore was connected to wider regional cultures.
Other notable exhibits include the Sulalat al-Salatin (Genealogy of Kings) manuscript which traces the lineage of Malay rulers and chronicles the world they inhabited.
It is accompanied by a digital interactive with four stories: Raja Chulan’s voyage, Sang Nila Utama’s voyage to Temasek, Sang Nila Utama seeing a Singa, Sultan Iskander Shah fleeing to Melaka.
Then learn about the Orang Laut and Malay communities of the Singapore Straits at Voices from the Sea. This showcase brings together objects and stories from people whose lives remain connected to the sea.
Through their fishing practices, food traditions, boats, stories and inherited knowledge, they show how Singapore’s maritime traditions live on today.
Section Two: Colonial City (1800s to 1930s)
This section on our Colonial past is familiar to us. Colonial rule focused on order and commerce. Raffles declared Singapore a free port, which quickly drew merchants from the region and beyond. Its success was also driven by its strategic position along busy sea routes that linked China, India, Southeast Asia and Europe.
Over the course of the 19th century, Singapore transformed into one of the region’s most important ports and developed into a bustling entrepot economy.
One artefact featured is a widest panorama captured, depicting Singapore’s mid-19th century waterfront, featuring Fort Fullerton, Johnston’s Pier, the Town Hall (today’s Victoria Theatre), the Dalhousie Obelisk and St Andrew’s Church along the shore.
Remember the rickshaw in the previous edition of the Gallery? It has made a comeback with an accompanying multimedia station. Visitors can have fun learning what it’s like to pull a rickshaw. See how each rider responds to your motion.
Take a look at diaspora of the population in those days too through photographs, portraits and even a population census form that was physically distributed door-to-door.
Section Three: Fall of the Fortress (Late 1930s–1940s)
The darkest years for Singapore are documented in this section. Marked by war, military occupation, the late 1930s to 1940s were turbulent yet needful for us to learn about.
One particular room was a sobering reminder of the results of war.
Notable artefacts included Tan Chong Tee’s painting that commemorated the Sino-Japanese War. He himself was part of the anti-Japanese movement in China then a member of the British counteroffensive programme Force 136 during World War II.
The showcase featuring personal belongings of the Sook Ching victims was particularly sobering. The glass showcase below a screen featuring shoreline with ebbing tides was heartwrenching.
The room also had artefacts like Lim Bo Seng’s pocket diary. This was also one of items I paid more attention to during my previous visits to Singapore History Gallery.
Check out an interactive installation that gets fingers busy. Visitors can try transmitting a short phrase, just like a British signal operator when Singapore fell to the Japanese.
Section Four: Towards a New Identity (1950s–1960s)
Post-war Singapore emboldened the people that aspired for self-determination.
This period was when colonial rule was challenged with various groups vocal about competing visions. There was tension, demonstrations, strikes which shaped the foundations of Singapore’s identity.
Zubir Said’s original composition of Majulah Singapura is also displayed prominently along with his Grand Piano. This is where visitors might take a longer pause to soak in the significance of the anthem along with the portrait of Lee Kuan Yew’s swearing in as Prime Minister.
Section Five: Becoming Singaporeans (1960s–1980s)
Visitors can have fun attempting to type with accuracy using a typewriter – part of the section about women in the workforce.
Step into a lesser-seen HDB lift that is a brand new addition to the Gallery. Some might say this lift reminded them of horror stories but it is a defining feature of high-rise living.
Also seen across the lifts are mailboxes which one can take a peek into.
See HDB corridors, kitchens, old textbooks, Speak Mandarin campaign paraphernalia. It would give certain generations a sense of nostalgia and reminisce the not-so-distant past. Younger ones might get tickled about the bulkiness of computers and more.
Section Six: Becoming Singapore (1980s–1990s)
Enter the 1980s and 1990s! What did improved infrastructure, rising affluence and a higher level of education mean for the nation? Various themed sections show familiar trends and lifestyles.
Food was an essential part of our culture with highlights on hawker culture and a Nanyang coffee roasting machine.
Try your hand at a trivia version of the Hawker Colours project by interacting with dishes to uncover their origins.
My favourites were the old-school music store where one could listen to “retro tunes” and the fashion-themed exhibition where a machine dresses you in a fashionable outfit of choice of that era.
You can even have a workout by following none other than the Great Singapore Workout.
The original Zouk signboard is also displayed in this section along with cultural icons of the time like the Hello Kitty McDonald’s plushies that we used to queue for.
Section Seven: Looking Global (2000s–Present)
Singapore’s transformation to the present day meant much development and progress, constant reinvention and renewal. Change had become a constant.
From the technological tools we used to important landmarks, this section focuses on the modernity of our city and the evolution through the digital era.
It also raises questions about preservation of our biodiversity, the balance of heritage-keeping and progress. Visitors will also watch a timelapse video capturing Singapore’s constant motion and hear voices to the future.
Upon exiting the Gallery, the final room leads visitors to ask where Singapore goes from here and what its identity will be.
Voices recorded at the Voice Input Station are gathered, reminding each and every visitor their voices build on those of the past and carry the dreams and aspirations that will shape Singapore’s future.
Reopening of Singapore History Gallery and National Museum of Singapore’s 139th Anniversary
Join in the celebrations from 10 to 18 October 2026. Titled Stories of Everyday, the festivities honour the lived experiences of Singaporeans across generations.
Visitors can look forward to special installations, an art market, live performances, workshops and more.
Meet the Museum’s new mascot – Stoney based on the Singapore Stone. Special merch and meet-and-greets will be available at the Stories of Everyday celebrations.
Where: National Museum of Singapore, Level 1
When: From 10 October 2026
Opening Hours: 10am to 7pm (Last ticket sales at 6pm, last admission at 6:30pm)
Admission Fee:
General Admission (Singapore Citizens & Permanent Residents) – Free
Tourist & Foreign Residents – Refer to the Museum’s website for the latest prices
*Admission is free for all from 10 to 12 October 2026
