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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IMD 2019

International Museum Day 2019

18 May 2019
Various Venues
11am - 5pm
Free Admission
Join us as we celebrate International Museum Day (IMD) and find out more about the past and future of museums, in line with this year's IMD theme - Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Traditions. Attend a HistoriaSG talk to learn about the development of early natural history in Singapore through the story of the Malayan Tapir!
Participate in a thrilling scavenger hunt in our permanent galleries, enjoy live music performances, or visit our craft stations and take home handcrafted keepsakes.
IMD 2019 Craft

Drop-In Craft Activities
Saturday, 18 May 2019 | 11am – 5pm |  Glass Atrium, Level 2
Free Admission

Celebrate International Museum Day by dropping by our craft stations and making your own handcrafted keepsakes to take home!


Tapir Farquhar Collection

HistoriaSG: A Tale of Thomases and Tapirs: Early Natural History in Singapore and Nearby Lands
Saturday, 18 May 2019 | 2pm – 3pm |  The Salon, Level 1

Three Thomases – Hardwicke, Horsfield and Raffles – have arguably made the earliest contributions to natural history in Singapore. Directly or indirectly, they have been responsible for introducing the first animals of any kind from Singapore to the West. But beyond just “collecting” species and specimens, how did these three men contribute to the larger understanding of nature and natural history in Singapore and beyond? Through the story of the Malayan Tapir, discover this rich natural history that began long before any of the Thomases stepped ashore in Singapore.

Limited spaces available. $5 per pax includes light refreshments. Visit thomasesandtapirs.peatix.com for registration.


Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, 18 May 2019 | 11am – 5pm | Various galleries
Free admission

Search the museum’s galleries to learn more about Singapore history and get a limited edition souvenir upon completion of a scavenger hunt activity sheet!

Building Tour

National Museum Building Tour for Families
Saturday, 18 May 2019 | 10.30am – 11.15am | Rotunda, Level 1
Free admission

In conjunction with International Museum Day, join us on a learning journey around the museum and discover more interesting gems about our 132-year old building!
Limited to 15 pairs of parent and child on a first-come-first-serve basis. Visit imdnmstour.peatix.com for registration.

IMD performers

Live Music Performance
Saturday, 18 May 2019 | 3pm – 3.30pm | The Platform, Level 2
Free admission

Enjoy a special performance that fuses Asian and Western instruments by performers from House of Music!


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!