SINGAPORE.- Come 19 September, the 128-year-old National Museum of Singapore will re-open its permanent galleries to the public. After a hiatus of almost a year, the revamped galleries will not only present Singapore’s history in more immersive and innovative ways, but also showcase artefacts that have never been displayed before.

Ms. Angelita Teo, Director of National Museum of Singapore, said: “The revamp of the museum’s permanent galleries is timely as we celebrate Singapore’s 50th anniversary, but it also marks another phase in the museum’s transformation since our major redevelopment in 2006. The last ten years saw an exponential growth of visitors to our local museums, and it is increasingly common to see families and friends spending quality time here. Therefore, at the heart of the revamp is a greater focus on creating personal and emotional connections with our visitors. We hope that by making the museum experience accessible and relevant, more visitors will be motivated to discover more about Singapore’s history and heritage on their own after having visited us.”

The Singapore History Gallery updates the ‘Singapore Story’, charting the development of the island through four distinct sections: Singapura (1299–1818), Crown Colony (1819– 1941), Syonan-To (1942–1945), and Singapore (1945 to the present). The gallery includes a broader representation of the nation’s post-independence history, captures some of the defining moments, challenges and achievements these 50 years and chronicles our journey of nationhood from post-war struggles to the global city we enjoy today. Visitors can also look forward to a multi-sensory and participatory experience via the use of audio-visual multimedia and an interactive map in the ‘Global City’ section, where visitors can submit their own stories and share their knowledge on Singapore’s international connections.

On the second level are the Life in Singapore: The Past 100 Years galleries, presenting snapshots of the way people lived in Singapore in the last century. Connected to the main narrative in the Singapore History Gallery, the Life in Singapore galleries take a closer look at the social and cultural histories in four main periods: Modern Colony (1925–1935), which examines the formative changes when Singapore society first became “modern” in colonial times; Surviving Syonan (1942–1945), which showcases the resourcefulness and resilience of people who endured the Japanese Occupation through personal accounts; Growing Up (1955–1965), which looks at the nation’s coming of age through the eyes of a child growing up alongside the nation, and Voices in Singapore (1975–1985), which explores how creativity and self-expression in arts and culture took the front seat as a new, confident, Singapore identity emerged. These galleries uncover the special Singaporean experiences and stories that epitomise the spirit of multi-racial diversity, social resilience and shared values that make up the Singaporean identity and character.

Also on the second level is the Goh Seng Choo Gallery, which features works from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings, an important component of the national collection, on a rotational basis. A stimulating new exhibition titled Desire and Danger explores the complex and sometimes uneasy relationship between man and nature through selected drawings from the collection, and will open together with the History and Life in Singapore Galleries.

A Shared Opening for all Visitors
To celebrate the re-opening of the permanent galleries, 19 and 20 September have been designated the Opening Weekend, with free admission for all to come and be part of the festivities. Visitors can also take part in fun-filled activities inside the galleries, including listening to stories from yesteryear, dressing up in vintage costumes for photographs, henna painting stations, as well as enjoy ‘kachang putih’ and other local treats.