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National Museum of Singapore

{{short description|National museum of Singapore}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}

{{Infobox museum

| name = National Museum of Singapore

| native_name = {{lang-zh|新加坡國家博物院}}
{{langx|ms|Muzium Negara Singapura}}
{{langx|ta|சிங்கப்பூரின் தேசிய அருங்காட்சியகம்}}

| native_name_lang =

| logo = 200px

| image = 2016 Singapur, Museum Planning Area, Narodowe Muzeum Singapuru (02).jpg

| imagesize = 300

| caption = Entrance to the National Museum of Singapore

| coordinates = {{coord|1|17|48.2|N|103|50|55.1|E|display=inline,title}}

| type = History Museum

| accreditation = National Heritage Board

| area =

| location = 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897

| former_name = The Raffles Library and Museum

| established = {{Start date and age|1887|df=yes}}

| architect = Henry McCallum{{efn|Original version}}
J. F. McNair{{efn|Scaled down version of McCallum's and one that was eventually constructed}}
W Architects and I.M. Pei{{efn|Redevelopment}}

| director = Chung May Khuen{{cite web |last1=Ho |first1=Olivia |title=Chung May Khuen appointed new director of National Museum of Singapore |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/chung-may-khuen-appointed-new-director-of-national-museum-of-singapore |website=www.straitstimes.com |publisher=The Straits Times |access-date=2 March 2022 |language=en |date=20 August 2019 |archive-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302063734/https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/chung-may-khuen-appointed-new-director-of-national-museum-of-singapore |url-status=live }}

| publictransit = {{SMRT code|CC|2}} Bras Basah
{{SMRT code|DT|21}} Bencoolen

| website = {{URL|https://www.nhb.gov.sg/nationalmuseum/}}

| mapframe-zoom = 16

}}

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{{efn|Now known as the Raffles Institution.}} as the Raffles Library and Museum.

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.

Over the centuries, the National Museum of Singapore has expanded and undergone various expansions and renovations, with the most recent being a three-and-a-half-year restoration that was completed on 2 December 2006, and was officially reopened on 7 December 2006 by former President of Singapore S. R. Nathan and the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang.Clara Chow, "National Museum opens after $132m makeover", The Straits Times, 8 December 2006 The Singapore History Gallery would open on 8 December that same year.

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.{{cite web |title=National Museum of Singapore |url=https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/national-monuments/national-museum-of-singapore |website=www.roots.gov.sg |access-date=2 March 2022}} 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.{{cite web |title=Free Admission For Citizens and Permanent Residents |url=https://www.nhb.gov.sg/free-admission |website=www.nhb.gov.sg |publisher=National Heritage Board (Singapore) |access-date=6 March 2022 |language=en}}

History

File:KITLV - 105738 - Raffles Museum in Singapore - circa 1900.tif

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{{efn|Now known as the Raffles Institution.}} before moving to 93 Stamford Road in 1887 after several relocations, where it is currently located.{{Cite web |title=National Museum of Singapore |url=https://www.nhb.gov.sg/nationalmuseum?sc_lang=en |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=www.nhb.gov.sg |language=en}}

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 centuries, 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.Clara Chow, "National Museum opens after $132m makeover", The Straits Times, 8 December 2006

The museum was designated a National Monument of Singapore on 14 February 1992 by the National Heritage Board.

Collection

{{Expand section|date=March 2023}}

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.{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Kristelynn |date=2019-05-14 |title=Tang Holdings donates largest private Raffles memorabilia collection to National Museum |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tang-holdings-donates-largest-private-raffles-memorabilia-collection-to-national-museum |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}

In 2022, seats from Singapore Airlines’s first Airbus A380 were added to the museum's collection.{{cite web |author1=Dinesh Ajith |title=Singapore Airlines donates iconic seats to National Collection |url=https://www.silverkris.com/airline/singapore-airlines-suite-and-business-class-seats-preserved/ |website=silverkris.com |publisher=Singapore Airlines |access-date=7 May 2024 |language=English |date=4 November 2022 }} In 2023, a Solari board previously used at Changi Airport's Terminal 2 was added.{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Rochelle |date=2023-04-27 |title=Retired flip board from Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 to go on display at National Museum |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/retired-flip-board-from-changi-airport-s-terminal-2-to-go-on-display-at-national-museum |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}} In 2024, a 1970s Nanyang coffee roasting machine and a 1979 Housing and Development Board lift were added.{{Cite news |last=Ng |first=Keng Gene |date=2024-04-28 |title=1970s HDB lift, Nanyang coffee roasting machine added to National Collection |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/1970s-hdb-lift-and-nanyang-coffee-roasting-machine-added-to-national-collection |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Doors, seats and map displays from 1990s MRT train to be preserved by National Museum |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/mrt-train-preservation-national-heritage-board-museum-4504246 |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=CNA |language=en}}

Gallery

File:National Museum of Singapore 3, Dec 06.JPG|The eastern wing of the museum at night

File:National Museum of Singapore 5.JPG|The museum's dome consists of 3,000 zinc fish-scaled tiles and stained glass panels

File:SNM Concourse.jpg|The museum's concourse

See also

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

= Works cited =

  • {{cite book | title=Museums of Southeast Asia| last=Lenzi| first=Iola| year=2004| publisher=Archipelago Press| location=Singapore| isbn=981-4068-96-9}}
  • National Heritage Board, Archipelago Press, Singapore's 100 Historic Places (2002), {{ISBN|981-4068-23-3}}
  • Norman Edwards and Peter Keys, Times Books International (1996), Singapore: A Guide to Buildings, Streets and Places, {{ISBN|981-204-781-6}}
  • {{cite web | title =National Museum of Singapore (Singapore Biennale) 2006 | work = Singapore Biennale | url = http://www.singaporebiennale.org/venues-nm.html | access-date =27 July 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060725152145/http://www.singaporebiennale.org/venues-nm.html |archive-date = 25 July 2006}}

External links

{{Commons category|National Museum of Singapore}}

  • {{official website}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20171031202349/http://www.singaporevr.com/vrs/NationalMuseum/NationalMuseum.html Virtual tour of the National Museum of Singapore] (archived)

{{portalbar|Visual arts|Singapore}}

{{Major tourist attractions in Singapore}}

{{Visual art in Singapore}}

{{National monuments of Singapore}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1849 establishments in Singapore

Category:Archaeological museums

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1887

Category:Ethnographic museums in Asia

Category:Government buildings completed in 1887

Category:History museums in Singapore

Category:Landmarks in Singapore

Category:Museum Planning Area

Category:Museums established in 1849

Category:National monuments of Singapore

Category:19th-century architecture in Singapore