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.

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HistoriaSG: Inside the Japanese Administration of Wartime Singapore [CANCELLED]

09 Apr 2020
Gallery Theatre,
Basement Level
7.30pm – 8.30pm
$5 per participant
To the people of Singapore, the Japanese administration that governed the city during World War Two was arbitrary and cruel. Many local residents, as they did their best to endure the occupation, gave up trying to understand the contradictory messages of the administration. Now, almost eight decades later, the many Japanese documents that survived the occupation allow us a glimpse into the inner workings of the wartime administration.
Dr Clay Eaton

In this talk, Dr Clay Eaton will review the various Japanese actors who set the tone for the occupation, their ideas for Singapore’s place in Japanese-controlled Asia, and the deep divisions and resentments that plagued the administration. He will share how and why the occupiers produced policies that would upend the lives of everyday Singaporeans, and the factors that led the administration to become increasingly dysfunctional as the war progressed. He will also discuss the aftermath of the occupation in both Japan and Singapore.

Limited spaces available. $5 per pax includes light refreshments.

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!