SPF200 Thumbnail
SPF200 Thumbnail

The SPF200 Exhibition: Frontier Town to Safest City

06 Feb 2020 - 17 May 2020
Stamford Gallery,
Level 1
10am – 7pm
Free Admission
Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world. However, our relative peace and calm should not be taken for granted.

We invite you to join us in our travel back in time to 200 years ago, when the Police was only a 12-man team, and how we have evolved against dynamic threats to keep Singapore safe and secure.

Learn how Sir William Farquhar fervently pushed for the formation of a police force in 1820 against the wishes of Sir Stamford Raffles. The birth of the Police was no panacea to the social issues plaguing Singapore, as visitors experience how Singapore was riddled with rampant chaos and vice activities up until the early 20th century.

Visitors can also learn how major historical events, such as the Japanese Occupation, the riots in the 1950s and 60s, and Singapore’s road to independence impacted the landscape of crime and security and shaped policing strategies. The exhibition brings together a collection of archival photos and videos, and artefacts to illustrate the trials and tribulations that our officers had experienced while safeguarding Singapore’s security.

Guided tours in English are available daily at 10.15am and 1.15pm at the Stamford Gallery. Each tour is approximately 45 minutes and is limited to 12 participants on a first come, first served basis. Click here if you wish to book a guided tour for groups with between 10 to 12 participants.
[Guided tours are unavailable till further notice.] 


For more details on SPF 200 exhibition, click here.

Images in thumbnail and banner: Source: © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.

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!