National Museum of Singapore

Original Building

Building, 1887

The front block of the museum building dates back to 1887. It features an elegant neo-Palladian design, a European style of architecture characterised by a highly symmetrical façade and the use of pediments above windows.

Read More
Gallery view 2 - AVLL
Gallery view 2 - AVLL

A Voyage of Love and Longing

Ongoing
Goh Seng Choo Gallery,
Level 2
Daily from 10am – 7pm Last admission at 6.30pm
Free admission for Citizens & Permanent Residents
What if we let nature 'speak' our emotions to our loved ones when we are far away from them? Drawing inspiration from the practice of belayar (voyage) in the Malay Archipelago during the 19th century, A Voyage of Love and Longing invites visitors to re-trace the complex emotions at its different points, from departure to return, through the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.
avll

Discover how the region's flora and fauna feature in tales of love and longing from the Malay world, and send out your favourites to those who matter through a digital flipbook at the end.

Or perhaps you prefer to chart your own sea adventure? See what awaits you through an interactive in-app game, and if you can make it back safely to your loved ones.

GSC

Click here to choose your own adventure!

Use information found in the exhibition and chart your own sea adventure! Click on the blue button above and try your hands at this online game which mirrors the exhibition's narrative of preparing for voyages, embarking on them, and returning.

This game can be accessed via the museum’s Dome Bot chatbot on mobile devices while at the exhibition. After selecting the language preference, access the game under the category of Interactives.

Family Time

Visit our permanent galleries with your little ones and play spot-the-artefact! Our colourful Early Learning Resources introduce pre-schoolers to our artefacts according to the themes of Numbers, Colours, and ABCs. Available at $8 per set from the Museum Label shop. For more children's activity booklets, click here.

Museum guide

Download our museum guide (English, Chinese, Bahasa Melayu, Tamil) to find out about the many treasures in our various galleries. In this guide, you will also find the floor plan for easier navigation. Enjoy your visit!