Commemorating SG60 and tracing the tides of Singapore’s transformation is National Museum Singapore’s latest exhibition opening 24 May 2025 to 9 October 2026 – Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City.
Immerse yourself in a journey through 700 years of history (and more! We explain later) and check out over 350 artefacts, some of which have never been shown to the public.
Is it going to be another history exhibition? Not quite! In fact, we take a look at how family-friendly Once Upon a Tide is.
About Once Upon a Tide Exhibition at National Museum of Singapore: From Settlement to Global City
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Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City is about Singapore’s maritime connections, inviting visitors to discover how the sea and river have shaped our evolution from a bustling 14th-century port to a global powerhouse of today.
There are many artefacts to pay close attention to – from ancient maps, even neolithic tools, antique weapons, tiny oval daguerreotype (earliest pictures of Singapore), belongings of early migrants, to items contributed by renowned Singaporeans such as Joseph Schooling, Max Maeder and more.
All of what you see are goods and ideas from around the world that have collectively woven the rich and diverse fabric of our nation, spanning centuries of history to the present day. It further reflects our shared journey over the years and commitment to building a shared future.
Held at National Museum Singapore’s B1 gallery, Once Upon a Tide runs for 17+ months – which means there’s an extended time to visit the exhibition.
9 Must-Sees For Families
Since I love history, I was excited to check out the artefacts especially after learning of the labour of the conservators that goes behind each piece of the National Collection. The exhibition has five sections on Singapore’s development in relation to the sea and the river.
Enter the first section by walking under the suspended canvasses of a digital projection of waves crashing onto shores. This would be familiar to the early people who first arrived.
The first section Always on the Map traces Singapore’s deep historical roots and highlights Singapore’s prominence on a regional and global scale long before “discovered” by the British in 1819.
1. Neolithic Tools and Ancient Maps
Did you know that Singapore might have been known as Sabana Emporium even before it was known as Temasek? The proof is in the pudding, we mean Plotemy’s Eleventh Map of Asia dated 1525. You can check out the map at Once Upon a Tide’s first section and see how Claudius Ptolemy a Greek astronomer alluded to the today’s Southeast Asia as a “Golden Peninsula” and at its Southern Tip “Sabana Emporium” which was a trading post that may have referred to Singapore.
We also see neolithic digging tools found in Pulau Ubin. Interestingly, these tools estimated to be between 3000 to 5000 years old were also found in areas such as Tuas, Johor and Bintan. This suggests that these were tools used by Orang Laut as an axe.
Could Singapore have a past that we have not yet uncovered?
As visitors walk through the galleries, they are also provoked by questions on the wall they can attempt to answer.
2. Interactive Stations
I liked how the information presented at the exhibition was bite-sized and even accompanied by interactive stations. For instance, visitors can search for Singapore across different historical maps.
You can also scan your RFID tags (collected at the entrance) and answer questions accordingly for a surprise at the end of the exhibition.
One question you might answer is related to an 18th century book by Alexander Hamilton (not THE Hamilton but a Scottish Sea Captain) to whom the Sultan of Johor offered the land of Singapore. He politely declined as he felt it was of no use to a private person but suitable for a company or a colony.
What would you do if you were given an island?
3. Waves of Wonder Guide for Children
Perfect for kids, there is an exhibition guide placed at various corners of the exhibition for little ones to access the information co-created with My First Skool. This makes it suitable for young audiences, with a mission tagged to the caption displayed at a child friendly height.
For school groups and children visiting, the National Museum has also created a complementary Programmes Cart with age-appropriate hands-on activities that pre-school and special needs schools can use during their self-guided visits.
4. Oldest Picture of Boat Quay and Singapore River
At the second section, The River Road, visitors will sail through the history of Singapore River once the lifeblood of our early settlement.
Don’t miss a tiny oval daguerreotype in the display, this is one of the earliest surviving photographs of Singapore showing Boat Quay.
The image was taken five years after the daguerreotype photographic technique was invented and a blown-up replica is right next to the display showing details of the Godowns in the area.
Right across the daguerreotype is an early 3D technology, look through the glasses or stereoscopes as they are called. The 3D illusion is created through pairing photographs taken 6 to 7 cm apart and combines into a single 3D image!
5. Dayung Sampan
Take on the Sampan Challenge – a physical and virtual exhibit. Pick up the oars and the passengers and try to navigate past other vessels and storms to get to your destination in the limited time you have.
6. Land Reclamation since 1822
Expanding Horizons is the next section shedding light on creative land planning to overcome the limits of Singapore’s size. Land reclamation efforts actually begun in 1822 of the southern bank. In 1870s, Telok Ayer Bay was expanded and much of the land is today’s Central Business District.
Families can also read a letter from Sir Stamford Raffles to the town planning committee, check out the never-seen map of Telok Ayer pre and post reclamation as well a map right from then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s Istana office in the early 1970s on proposals on future reclamation like Marina Bay.
Interact with a digital slider map that visually traces Singapore’s changing coastlines across the centuries that will show our long history of reclamation.
7. Tribute to our Forefathers
Next up, the section Flows of People is dedicated to early migrants who laid the foundation of Singapore’s development. Visitors will be greeted by a ramp leading from a ship that would have sailed from far away, with a whole line of trunks containing artefacts and mementos.
This is a chance to show our little ones how their ancestors came with travelling trunks and chests filled with essentials such as rice for their journey, foreign currencies, letters and more.
Families can also peer at the diaorama of the coolies’ housing with plenty of detail ideal for curious kids wondering at the living conditions of the past.
One item that is showcased is a 1950s patchwork carrier lovingly stitched and made for babywearing, not unlike our modern day carriers. This was a handy item for majies then who made a living out of caring for children.
On a more serious note, we saw how the British had to manage crime and subversive forces through banishing migrants. From propaganda using comic books to tools, it was some insight into the order of society then.
Families can also listen or watch audio and video testimonials for more stories of various members of the communities. The sacrifices made by the early settlers must have been hard to imagine, with what little they had yet kept as mementos.
8. Spotlighting Singaporeans & Singlish
Once Upon a Tide culminates in Making Waves the final section spotlighting Singaporeans we might all be familiar with.
We can see many of personal items such as a baby piano, swim wear, sports jersey, medals, movie posters and more signifying the many contributions of the “wave makers”.
Take the game on Singlish to test your knowledge of our unique language! Pit yourself against another to see who scores better.
Visitors are also invited to contribute objects and stories as part of the museum’s Collecting Contemporary Singapore initiative that returns this year with a focus on “wave makers”. More information on this public call is available on the National Museum’s website.
9. Your Personalised Avatar
To end the experience, visitors will be assigned one of four avatars based on your responses to the various questions answered throughout the exhibition. Each avatar reflects one’s individual values, priorities and aspirations for Singapore’s future.
Which one will you be?
Children’s Season from 24 May to 29 June 2025: Get Curious! Building Our Singapore
Jointly opening to all on the same weekend is National Museum’s Children’s Season. This year’s edition features an interactive installation where children can dress up like early migrant workers, learn about their journeys and even write a thank you note to migrant workers. There are fun photospots where kids can pose as Samsui women or Rickshaw pullers.
Families can also visit Our Mama Shop showcase, designed in collaboration with The Artground. The showcase features artworks related to the mama shop with old-school games available to play at the “void deck”.
Kids can also open letterboxes to uncover their content, colour in their own mama shop, doodle and play old-school games together.
There will be film screenings, interactive storytelling, character meet and greet sessions and The River Hunt, a mission-based activity to look forward to during the June school holidays.
Admission to National Museum Singapore’s Once Upon a Tide & Children’s Season
Once Upon a Tide is free for Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents.
All HSBC cardholders are eligible to $6 off for both the standard tourist tickets ($6 off $24) and the concession – senior/student tickets ($6 off $18) for payment through HSBC cards on site.
Entry to the Get Curious! Building Our Singapore installation and showcase are free for all, while some of the programmes are ticketed.
Where: 93 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178897
Once Upon a Tide Exhibition timings: 10 am to 7 pm daily from 24 May 2025 to 9 October 2026
Children’s Season timings: 10 am to 6 pm daily from 24 May 2025 to 29 June 2025 (Selected programmes only on weekends)
More information: Once Upon a Tide Website, Children’s Season Website
