Singapore History Gallery reopening on 10 October 2026 also anchors NMS 139th Anniversary Celebrations: Stories of Everyday. Taking place from 10 to 18 October 2026, there would be festivities and activities taking place, this also marks the debut of Stoney – NMS new mascot inspired by the storied Singapore Stone. The celebrations also mark the completion of NMS’s three-year restoration works while it continues with phases revamp of the rest of its permanent galleries, slated for completion in early 2027.

“The reopening of the Singapore History Gallery is a milestone that carries deep meaning for us. It is the culmination of years of work, shaped by the voices of our communities and grounded in our belief that Singapore’s story belongs to everyone who has lived it,” said Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore. “Opening on the weekend of our 139th anniversary, it is a reflection and affirmation of our enduring mission as the People’s Museum – a place where every visitor, regardless of background, new and returning alike, can find themselves in the living tapestry of Singapore’s story.” 

Singapore History Gallery – Our History Through the Voices of Those Who Lived It

The Singapore History Gallery tells our timeless tales told anew: telling our history through the voices of those who lived it. 

Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time

Before you step into the revamped Singapore History Gallery, enter into Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda’s immersive installation, Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time, the revamped Singapore History Gallery forms an integrated narrative experience for you to journey through.

After travelling back in time through regional myths and historical maritime milestones, you are now ready to continue your journey into Singapore History Gallery, on a chronological, in-depth, diverse, wider and deeper exploration of Singapore’s story that traces how the nation’s identity has been shaped over seven centuries, and the journey till today and beyond, what it means to be a Singaporean today.

Are you ready to travel back in time with the Singapore History Gallery?

Are you ready to travel back in time over seven centuries? Your journey ahead is going to be a different and unique experience, dynamic soundscapes and visual experiences that you see at the Gallery’s entrance would set the stage for your travel across the various zones in the Gallery. Be ready to mesmerised by never-before-seen artefacts and fresh research alongside multimedia spaces and interactive touch points.

There are also voice input stations, a new addition planted throughout the Gallery, inviting you to share your reflections on the presented stories and perspectives. At each station, you are invited to record your personal responses to a question relevant to the main theme of each zone of the exhibition. These visitor contributions come together to shape the concluding experience at the end of the Gallery.

Let’s begin our time travel journey back in time to a few centuries before Sir Stamford Raffles arrival in Singapore. 

Fluid Beginnings (1300s-1800s)

Your maiden experience in the Singapore History Gallery begins with Fluid Beginnings (1300s-1800s). A newly commissioned jongkong boat model welcomes you into the revamped Gallery, connecting between Singapore’s maritime heritage and the living communities that still continues to carry it forward today. 

Fluid Beginnings invites you to explore a region defined by the sea, where ships, goods and people moving constantly throughout Singapore’s waters, weaving the island into a vibrant maritime network that shifted with trade, politics and power. 

Visitors would be encountering artefacts that speak to Singapore’s deep cultural roots and its place within the Malay world, from sacred figurines and manuscripts to treasures recovered from a 14th-century shipwreck in Singapore’s own waters. 

Don’t miss the iconic Singapore Stone, take pride in this layered and still-unfolding history, that can be discovered through an accompanying digital interactive. 

Colonial City (1800s-1930s)

The era that started Singapore’s shift and transformation from a fledging trading post into one of Asia’s most dynamic port cities. At the start of this section, visitors would know more about the world before British arrival, before tracing the rapid growth that followed Raffles declaration of Singapore as a free port, drawing merchants, migrants and labourers from across Asia whose toil and enterprise built the colony’s prosperity.

Observe the maps, early photographs, prints and many more that capture the physical transformation of the island. Keep a lookout for the everyday objects and stories of traders and immigrants that made Singapore home, providing insights into a city of both cosmopolitanism and marked inequality. 

A recreated rickshaw allows visitors to try their hand at lifting and pulling it, through a physical digital interactive. This can be a fun and memorable experience to interact and understand some parts of life in Singapore back in those days.

Next up would the political awakenings taking shape as global currents of nationalism reached Singapore’s shores and its diverse communities began to imagine a future beyond imperial rule.

Fall of the Fortress (Late 1930s-1940s)

What was Singapore’s social fabric like during that turbulent and dark times? This section examines the rupture of Singapore’s social fabric during the Japanese occupation alongside the resilient it forged. 

Learn more about the mounting tensions of the Sino-Japanese War through the propaganda posters and war photographs capturing how distant conflict drew residents into opposing camps.

Through an interactive display of a painting by Force 136 veteran Tan Chong Tee, presented next to the original, visitors can trace the arc of tension during that period. The painting chronicles key events of the Sino-Japanese War from 1937 to 1939, and the rising pressures that brought war to the shores of Singapore.

Thereafter, follow the swift collapse of Britain’s “impregnable fortress” through personal effects, military artefacts, and letters that tells the high human cost from the Fall of Singapore. Visitors can step into the moment of Japanese surrender at an interactive Morse code station, before ending your tour in this section with the aftermath of the occupation and stirrings of a Malayan identity. 

Towards a New Identity (1950s-1960s)

The post-war years, towards a new identity with a push for self-determination. This section captures the hard-fought journey taken by Singapore towards self-governance while also exploring the artistic awakening that formed the backdrop to the bird of a sovereign nation. 

Post-war Singapore grapples with poverty and colonial discontent, artists and activists during that era channelled their aspirations into woodblock prints, literature and theatre, giving voice to the ordinary people in that era. 

Through student demonstrations and labour strikes during that era, feel the energies unleashed by them onto the streets. On the other hand, a new generation of local leaders emerged to contest competing versions for Singapore’s future. 

Anchoring that era’s civic heartbeat in this zone is Zubir Said’s piano, the instrument on which he composed “Majulah Singapura”, displayed in Singapore History Gallery for the first time.

Watch a multimedia recreation of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s televised conference announcing Singapore’s separation from Malaysia, inviting visitors to sit with and contemplate this pivotal moment in Singapore’s history. 

Becoming Singapore (1960s-1980s)

Becoming independent and post independence years, discover how Singaporeans built new lives alongside major government reforms to the economy, housing and education. Singapore’s industrialisation is brought to life through everyday artefacts from Fairchild Semiconductor, capturing what it meant to be part of a generation of workers – many of them women – who found livelihoods in the factories that helped transformed Singapore’s economy.

A restored HDB lift might invoke some nostalgia memories for those that grew up in this era, showcasing the spirit of adaption extending to the experience of high-rise living. There is a poem that accompanies it that captures the mix of enthusiasm and anxiety that came with leaving the kampongs behind.

In this era of growth, rising incomes, it brought about modern conveniences and a new generation of Singaporeans coming of age under a revised bilingual education system, a shared Singaporean identity gradually started to take shape. 

At the end of this section, a recreation of a typical void deck where visitors are invited to take a seat and read Arthur Yaps’ poem “2 mothers in a h d b playground” – an intimate snapshot of everyday life in a nation finding its footing.

Continuing on this journey, the Gallery shifts to a colourful exploration of leisure and lifestyle that defined Singapore’s bolder urban identities and aspirations. Step into a passageway inspired by Orchard Road, complete with street lamps and signboards, setting the tone for you to explore how Singaporeans expressed themselves through food, fashion, film, sports and nightlife. 

Unlock stories about Singapore’s hawker culture through a hawker table installation, tap and rotate the the food items. Explore how independent filmmakers brought Singlish to life on screen and homegrown designers made their mark on the world stage.

For those retro Mambo music lovers, do you remember the good old Zouk at Jiak Kim Street? How about techno music at Phuture? 

Explore how sports brought Singaporeans united together in shared moments of national pride. If you haven’t experienced the Great Singapore Workout before, why not join in and try it out while watching archival footage of it?

As Singapore approached the eve of a new millennium, see how a city is ready on the cusp of change and the people ready to meet it.

Looking Global (2000s-Present)

Not only has the Singapore History Gallery goes further back in time to the 1300s, this section traces the more current and recent times of Singapore’s modern history, from the 200s to the present as Singapore is looking global and beyond. 

Singapore grew into a major financial and maritime hub, a world-class metropolis defined by its diverse and dynamic cosmopolitan people, and a cityscape that is constant reinventing and improving themselves. 

First and foremost in Looking Global section, there is an amazing and mind-blowing timelapse by photographer Keith Loutit, titled “The Lion City 2012-2026”, compresses nearly 15 years of Singapore’s development and redevelopment into two and a half minutes. 

Next up is an interactive mural charing Singapore’s place in global networks of trade, travel and communications. Discover ow have Singaporeans engaged with the world, from technological innovations with global impacts, to efforts in sustainability and humanitarian aid, while turning to the more personal question of what it means to belong to a city that never stands still.

Who Are We Today? – a film featuring candid conversations with residents of diverse backgrounds that poses the Gallery’s central question to the visitor, inviting them to reflect on their own place in Singapore’s ever-evolving story. 

Before you exit Singapore History Gallery, enjoy a cinematic concluding experience that carries you from Singapore’s past into its future. An immersive experience that draws together Singapore’s past to present in the form of a connected landscape, a projected river send glimmer of voices contributed by visitors drifting towards the walls. 

From the various voice input stations throughout the Gallery, collecting the values, beliefs and aspirations shared by the visitors, this collective vision produces a unique skyline of future Singapore, accompanied by a reflection crafted from visitors’ own words.

NMS 139th Anniversary Celebrations: Stories of Everyday

The National Museum of Singapore (NMS) celebrates its 139th anniversary through Stories of Everyday, taking place from 10 to 18 October 2026, with programmes and activities themed around the lived experiences of everyday Singaporeans across generations.

The Living Archive: A Living & Design Market by Of Wonder Wander

A curated selection of ceramics, stationery, accessories, food and more is taking place. That would be a refreshed vendor line-up on 14 October. There is also a special interactive installation, The National Living Room, at the Museum’s Platform space, recreating a living room of the past, featuring objects and stores from Singaporeans that breathe life into a house and transform it into a home.

Official Debut of Stoney

Stoney, NMS charming new mascot inspired by the Singapore Stone, a National Treasure on display at NMS, is going to make its official debut.

Stoney’s story begins as he awakens on the banks of the Singapore River with no memory of where he came from. Longing to find his true kin, he embarks on an island wide trek through modern Singapore – this journey ultimately leads him back home to the National Museum of Singapore, just as the doors of the revamped Singapore History Gallery opens its doors to welcome him.

Come meet-and-greet Stoney at NMS reopening celebrations, there are also photo opportunities with a larger-than-life Stoney installation on NMS lawn. Want to own Stoney? You can take Stoney home in the form of a keychain plush, available at the Museum Market by Abry store for $13.90 from 10 October onwards.

Exciting and Fun programmes at Stories of Everyday Celebrations

There is a diverse line-up of programmes for all ages, check out contemporary dance performance Searching Blue《寻蓝》T.H.E Dance Company, HistoriaSG heritage talks, roving historical figure performances and community music jamming with Ann Siang Sounds.

For more information on Singapore History Gallery Reopening on 10 October 2026 and NMS 139th Anniversary Celebrations, visit (insert website link) or find out more on NMS Facebook, Instagram or TikTok pages. 

The post Singapore History Gallery Reopens on 10 October 2026 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time

When you set sail with Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time at NMS, you would be experiencing a time travel journey of Singapore, as it chronicles the major milestones in Singapore’s 700 years of history, presented through special animations and interactive experiences, in a personalised and immersive journey that gives visitors something different and unique to experience Singapore’s history from a fresh perspective. 

“The previous installation, Story of the Forest, featured animals inspired by our prized William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings. Well-loved by visitors, it sparked wonder and curiosity about the collection. With Singapore Odyssea, we wanted to continue drawing on our collection and rich stories to present Singapore’s history in an engaging and relevant way – this creates an accessible entry point, while honouring the depth and significance of our history,” said Ms Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore.

Ms Chung added: “In presenting Story of the Forest, we pushed the boundaries of a conventional museum-going experience through technology and multimedia to create a highly immersive space. It was very well received by visitors, who called for similar experiences and even greater interactivity. This was the impetus behind incorporating further multisensorial and interactive elements in Singapore Odyssea that we hope will continue to excite and enchant our visitors.”

“The Shaw Foundation is proud to support the National Museum in its continued efforts to share the rich and storied history of our nation,” said Mr Mark Shaw of Shaw Foundation. “We hope that the bold and innovative storytelling in Singapore Odyssea will captivate and inspire visitors to take pride in our heritage and develop a deeper interest in Singapore’s remarkable history.”  

Experiencing 700 years of Singapore’s history in four episodes 

The Singapore Odyssea blends history, art and technology together, shaping into an evocative time-travel voyage through Singapore’s history that centres on the sea as an ever-present witness and enabler of our country’s evolution. 

Designed by local creatives, Singapore Odyssea offers visitors a vivid, immersive, experiential overview of Singapore’s journey over 700 years. This journey spotlights key moments of Singapore’s history, layered with local stories and myths associated with Singapore’s origins. 

This installation gives cultural and historical context to Singapore’s identity, adding depth and enhancing appreciation for Singapore’s place in the region and the world. When you visit Singapore Odyssea, you can look forward to “setting sail” from an imagined futuristic Singapore to our pre-colonial beginnings.

Join me! Let’s Set Sail with Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time!

When you set sail with Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time, what would you be experiencing? Here are the time travel stages that you would be going back into:

• Opening: Glimpse of the Future – Singapore, as a futuristic, green and connected city
• Episode 1: Setting Sail – Scenes from independence to present-day Singapore
• Episode 2: Riding Out the Storm – Scenes from wartime and postwar Singapore
• Episode 3: Age of Exploration – Scenes from Colonial Singapore
• Episode 4: Shores of Singapura – Scenes from pre-colonial Singapore period 

Opening: Glimpse of the Future (Singapore, as a futuristic, green and connected city)

You are now going to embark on your journey, it’s now boarding time to “board” a time-travelling vessel. Take in the futuristic view of the Singapore skyline from the “cabin”, this sets the stage for your time travel journey back in time.  

As you enter into the gallery, you will be greeted by a stunning light show anchored by a suspended LED globe – the first of its kind in a Singapore museum. The room is now immersed in vibrant hues of blue, the scene transiting into a two-minute show that maps the intricate network of maritime routes that have connected Singapore to the rest of the world over the years. 

Episode 1: Setting Sail (Scenes from independence to present-day Singapore)

Starting episode 1 of your time travel journey back in time as you descend the spiral ramp, you are now experiencing the pivotal chapters of Singapore’s history. Be mesmerised by the visual wall projections that you will encounter, coming alive through animated scenes and rich soundscapes. 

Immerse yourself into those key moments of Singapore, such as Singapore’s first National Day Parade before wartime evacuations, and ancient coastal communities. 

Episode 2: Riding Out the Storm (Scenes from wartime and postwar Singapore)

Entering into episode 2, you are now entering the time of wartime and postwar Singapore. Key scenes include the sinking of the HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse., Japanese air raids, and early nation building efforts. Experience the feelings and emotions of turbulence, uncertainty, and suspense.

Episode 3: Age of Exploration (Scenes from Colonial Singapore)

Continuing your journey back in time, to Singapore’s colonial era, with the sea as a gateway to the world, evoking wonder and surprise. Relive Singapore as a thriving port city, set against a tropical landscape that welcomed traders, immigrants, and new ideas. 

Episode 4: Shores of Singapura (Scenes from pre-colonial Singapore)

You are now entering into episode 4 of your time travel journey, the final episode of your Singapore Odyssea adventure. Dive into Singapore’s mythical pre-colonial past, sparking a sense of curiosity and wonder. 

Encounter the Orang Laut, the legend of the Palembang prince Sang Nila Utama’s arrival on the island, and story of Padang and the Singapore Stone.

Grand Finale at base of the Glass Rotunda 

Your time travel journey has now reached the base of the Glass Rotunda. A grand finale awaits you, where a cinematic digital waterfall curtain opens up in segments to reveal pivotal moments from Singapore’s history as you approach towards it.

On the floor, it’s dynamic as it responds to visitors movements, with each step creating ripples on the surface that interact with surrounding ripples generated by others. An interactive and fully immersive experience enhanced by a curated sound design, creating a powerful grand finale to your time travel voyage at Singapore Odyssea.  

Sustainability as a thematic undercurrent 

In the previous interactive exhibition edition at the Glass Rotunda, Story of the Forest sparked the topic and conversation on environmental awareness. Today, in Singapore Odyssea, this continues on, showing how Singapore’s identity has been shaped by its natural environment and the sea – from the lives of coastal communities from early Singapore, to the nation’s post-independence greening efforts and visions of future climate resilience.

Ms Priscilla Chua, Principal Curator of the National Museum of Singapore, shared: “The launch of Singapore Odyssea in the momentous year of SG60 is an opportune time to revisit our nation’s remarkable journey, while reflecting on our relationship with the environment. We encourage visitors to draw connections between the evolution of Singapore’s natural environment through the ages, with urgent global challenges like climate change and rising sea levels that are pertinent issues that will shape Singapore’s present and future.” 

Buddy Buddy Time Travel at Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time

Before visiting NMS for a Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time, don’t forget to invite your bestie/buddy along for this interactive and immersive experience. 

Pick up a personalised RFID-enabled wristband before you go onboard your time travel journey. You can “adopt” one of nine companions, each inspired by Singapore’s native fauna. 

Whether it’s a forest dwelling pangolin, a coastal crab, or a sky-gliding hornbill, these companions respond uniquely to their visitor’s movements and environment by lighting the path forward, triggering hidden animations, and deepening emotional connection at every turn.

Release your RFID-enabled companions at a Digital “Well”

You have reached the end of your Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time adventure, before you leave and return back to modern day Singapore, you are invited to release your RFID-enabeld companions at a digital “well”. 

This symbolic gesture reinforces the saying that what is borrowed from nature should be returned with care – A call to action to build a sustainable future for people and the real-life counterparts of those (RFID-enabled) companions.

This experience is featured alongside immersive media where myths of legendary creatures such as the giant tide-moving crab and the magical tree of life Pauh Janggi are reinterpreted. All these offer poetic entry points into today’s urgent ecological conversations and topics on climate change, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss not as isolated modern concerns, but as part of Singapore’s long and evolving story.

Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time Opens 8 August 2025

The Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time officially opens to the public on 8th August 2025. Admission to Singapore Odyssea, is free for Singaporeans and permanent residents. 

Leading up to SG60 Celebrations at the National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Odyssea will run alongside other complimentary showcases happening at National Museum of Singapore – including the commemorative Once Upon A Tide, that explores Singapore’s maritime evolution from settlement to global city, and a curated series of programmes for the National Museum of Singapore’s SG60 National Day 2025 celebrations on 9th August 2025. 

These include community-built LEGO installations, digital and hands-on art activities, live performances, and a spectacular evening projection show, Canvas of Light: Your Nation’s Journey, on the facade of the National Museum of Singapore.

For more information, please visit go.gov.sg/singapore-odyssea or the National Museum’s Facebook and Instagram pages. 

The post Set Sail with Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time at National Museum of Singapore appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Inspired by 1987 National Day Theme song “We Are Singapore”

Inspired by the lyrics of the beloved 1987 National Day Theme song “We Are Singapore”, 2025 SG60 celebrations programmes are thematically curated to honour the people, values and stories that have shaped Singapore over the years.

Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said, “The National Museum has long been a space where Singapore’s history and identity are explored, celebrated and reimagined. This SG60, it is especially meaningful for us to welcome visitors to join us in reliving the stories and values that form our identity as Singaporeans. Inspired by the song “We Are Singapore”, which speaks to our spirit of determination and immense pride in the country we’ve built together, our largest National Day celebrations aim to honour our shared past and invite the community to participate in shaping the stories we continue to tell.” 

Telling the Singapore Story through Light and Bricks in the lead-up to National Day 2025

Singapore’s SG60 celebrations at NMS are starting in July 2025 with two eye-catching activities telling the Singapore story through light and bricks in the lead-up to National Day 2025.

Canvas of Light: Our Nation’s Journey 

The crowd favourite National Day Light-Up will finally make a return on NMS facade from 18th July to 9th August 2025 with Canvas of Light: Our Nation’s Journey. This year’s iconic projection offers a refreshed visual experience with stunning light art, and in a tribute to Singapore’s resilience and unity, visitors can watch Singapore’s story unfold across NMS historic building facade through a captivating dance of light and colour.

Canva of Light: Our Nation’s Journey

• Time: Daily | 7:30pm – 12am
• Location: Front Lawn, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge

Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick

LEGO fans in Singapore rejoice! You CANNOT miss this! You MUST visit Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick, showcase at the Stamford Gallery, celebrating Singapore’s community creativity and national heritage through play. 

Inspired by the Flows of People section in the NMS commemorative SG60 exhibition, Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City, this showcase brings Singapore’s satires to life through a mix of building bricks and innovative digital installations and experiences.

Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick is presented in collaboration with The LEGO Group. Immerse yourself into this large-scale diorama of iconic Singaporean elements, intricate LEGO builds of Singaporean’s favourite local food, and LEGO artworks by students of the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) that depict historical and modern scenes inspired by our iconic Singapore River.

Whether you are a young or young at heart LEGO fan, I reckon you will love this Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick! It’s truly Uniquely Singaporean stories that many of us here can relate with, take your time to observe the Uniquely Singaporean characteristics, history, heritage, culture and modern anime/mecha/toys world! 

Singapore’s Biggest LEGO Mural

When you visit Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick, you can contribute to a one-of-a-kind LEGO mural that aims to set a new Singapore Book of Records title for Singapore’s Biggest LEGO Mural ever created in the country. Visitors are invited to play a part of this record-breaking moment by completing the final section of the mural, with each added brick being a tribute to Singapore’s enduring community spirit, creativity and national pride.

Digital River Stories

Inspired by the creations in the Stories of Singapore showcase, visitors are invited to actively participate in Digital River Stories, an engaging digital experience designed in partnership with MID Pro Group to foster creativity. Using their personal mobile devices, visitors can unleash their artistic talents through a digital colouring activity and share their hopes and desires for the future of Singapore. Once completed, these artworks can be seamlessly submitted to a dynamic digital wall, where they will come to life and join a vibrant and ever-evolving interactive background.

Play with LEGO at LEGO Play Box 

For the young builders, you can engage in free play to create items inspired by the exhibition. 

Mini LEGO Orchid Workshop

When you are visiting Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick, drop by during the following days and time slots to craft your very own LEGO orchard to bring home a moment of your visit!

Saturdays and Sundays, 19th – 20th July | 26th – 27th July | 2nd – 3rd August |

• Time: 2pm – 5pm
• Saturday 9th August 
• Time: 10am – 12pm & 1pm – 5pm
• Note: Materials for each slot are limited, on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick

• Time: Daily: 10am – 7pm
• Location: Stamford Gallery, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge. Entry may be restricted when the gallery is at capacity.

Grand Finale Celebration on 9th August 2025

4 levels of National Day Celebrations – each representing a line from NDP 1987 theme song, We Are Singapore.

Basement Level – There was a time when people said that Singapore won’t make it…

Visitors can participate in hands-on experiences that pay homage to Singapore’s maritime past, centred around Singapore’s early history as the capital of the Straits Settlements.

National Day Colour Competition 2025

• Time: 10am – 1pm
• Location: Gallery Theatre, Basement Level
• Price: Free of charge (subject to a refundable deposit of $10 per child)

Interactive Storytelling: The River Road

• Time: 3pm – 3:45pm & 4:30pm – 5:15pm
• Location: Gallery Theatre, Basement Level
• Price: $12 per adult-child pair (incl. GST)

Create & Float: Make Your Own Boat

• Time: 10am – 11am (priority slot for people with disabilities) | 11am – 12pm & 1pm – 5pm (for public)
• Location: Canyon: Basement Level
• Price: Free of charge

Level 1 – This is my country, this is my flag…

Visitors are invited to celebrate elements that make us uniquely Singaporean, with activities that spotlight cultural keystones such as our beloved Singlish dialects and the iconic kopi and kaya toast Singapore breakfast ritual.

Waves of Wisdom: A Human Library Experience

• Time: 10am – 12pm & 2pm – 4pm 
• Location: Reunion, Level 1
• Price: $5 per pax (including GST), includes pastry set from Cafe Brera (consisting of 1 pastry and 1 beverage)

Heritage in a Cup: The Art of Kopi and Kaya

• Time: 10am – 12pm 
• Location: The Salon, Level 1
• Price: $32 per pax of $60 per pair

Can Draw Anot?

• Time: 3pm – 4pm
• Location: The Salon, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge

Mirror, Mirror: Interactive Photo Booth

• Time: 10am – 5:30pm 
• Location: Longer Concourse, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge 

Writings on the Wall

• Time: 10am – 7pm
• Location: LED Wall, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge 

Our Singapore, Our Canvas – A Community Artwork

• Time: 10am – 12pm & 3pm – 5pm
• Location: Front Lawn, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge

Percussion performance by Green Drumming

• Time: 5pm – 5:15pm (arrive by 4:50pm) 
• Location: Front Lawn, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge

Live Telecast of NDP

• Time: 5:30pm – 8:30pm (sit by 5:15pm) 
• Location: Front Lawn, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge

Level 2 and 3 – We Are Singapore, Singaporeans…

Designed to highlight pivotal moments in Singapore’s path to independence, visitors can look forward to a heritage hunt showcasing the museum’s artefacts, batik activities featuring beloved icons, and more.

The Hunt @ MNS

• Time: 10am – 12:30pm & 1:30pm – 6pm (final registration at 5pm, and redemption counter closes at 6pm)
• Location: Glass Atrium (near the Donor Wall), Level 2
• Price: Free of charge

Reach Out for the Stars: Craft Activity

• Time: 10am – 11pm (priority slot for people with disabilities) | 11am – 12pm & 1pm – 5:30pm (for public)
• Location: The Platform, Level 2
• Price: Free of charge

Drop-in Batik Activity

• Time: 10am – 11pm (priority slot for people with disabilities) | 11am – 12pm & 1pm – 5:30pm (for public)
• Location: Glass Atrium (near the Glass Rotunda), Level 2
• Price: Free of charge

Hats off to SG! Craft Station

• Time: 10am – 11pm (priority slot for people with disabilities) | 11am – 12pm & 1pm – 5:30pm (for public)
• Location: Outside Explore Room, Level 3
• Price: Free of charge

Watch NDP 2025 live on the National Museum of Singapore front lawn

At the end of the day, as you and your family are wrapping your festivities at the National Museum of Singapore, families are invited to gather on the National Museum’s Front Lawn for a relaxing picnic under the stars for a live screening of the National Day Parade 2025 from 5:30pm onwards. 

Admission details and More Information

Admission to Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick showcase is free of charge. 

On 9th August 2025, all visitors can enjoy free admission to the National Museum of Singapore. Admission will include entry to the National Museum’s latest installation, Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time, housed in the iconic Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda – the first of the National Museum’s permanent galleries that will reopen on 8th August 2025. 

Visitors can also visit the Singapore History Gallery before its closure on 17th November 2025, with its last day open to the public on 16th November.

For more information, please visit the National Museum of Singapore Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Come on down to the National Museum of Singapore and celebrate SG60 National Day Celebrations!

An exciting line-up of SG60 National Day 2025 Celebrations awaits you and your family, loved ones and friends at the National Museum of Singapore! Come on down and have a great SG60 National Day Celebrations at the National Museum of Singapore! 

The post Exciting line-up of SG60 National Day Celebrations awaits you at the National Museum of Singapore! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City

Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City, runs from 24 May 2025 to 9 October 2026. This special exhibition anchors on Singapore’s maritime connections,  inviting visitors to discover and learn more about Singapore’s maritime history and heritage, how the sea and river have shaped Singapore’s evolution from a bustling 14th century port to a global maritime powerhouse of today. 

Featuring over 350 artefacts from the National Collection, the exhibition traces the constant flows of people, goods, and ideas from around the world that have ben collectively won the rich and diverse fabric of our nation, with centuries of history under its belt to its present day. This also further reflects our shared journey over the years and commitment to build a shared future.

Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said, “As we celebrate SG60, Once Upon a Tide offers a timely opportunity for us to reflect on our nation’s remarkable journey of progress and transformation that is shaped by its connections in the region and beyond. These values of openness and interconnectedness remain relevant and crucial today, as we constantly adapt and innovate to navigate a landscape that is highly globalised and increasingly turbulent. We hope this exhibition will inspire Singaporeans to think about the collective future they envision for our nation.” 

Ms Tan Su-Yin, Senior Director (Grants), Tote Board, shared: “Tote Board is honoured to play a role in commemorating Singapore’s 60th year of independence through our support of various SG60 programmes. At the heart of these celebrations is Once Upon a Tide, which chronicles Singapore’s remarkable transformation. The exhibition is a testament to our collective achievements and the unwavering spirit that has defined Singapore’s progress over six decades. Through our support of Once Upon a Tide and other SG60 initiatives, Tote Board continues our commitment to fostering social cohesion and celebrating our shared heritage. These programmes provide platforms for Singaporeans to come together, reflect on our journey, and strengthen the bonds that make our society uniquely Singaporean.” 

Ashmita Acharya, Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking at HSBC Singapore, said, “As Principal Sponsor of Once Upon a Tide, HSBC is proud to play a part in celebrating Singapore’s remarkable growth from a small fishing village to a global financial powerhouse –a journey we’ve been a part of since opening our first branch here along the busy port of Singapore 148 years ago. Our support of this exhibition underscores our continued commitment towards fostering meaningful international connections, partnering businesses, and opening opportunities that contribute to the next chapter of the nation’s growth at this pivotal moment in history.” 

Five Immersive Sections in your Journey of Discovery at Once Upon a Tide

There are five immersive sections in this special exhibition, each represents different aspects of Singapore’s evolution that are brought to life through experiential storytelling. Let’s begin your voyage journey into Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City.

First Section – Always on the Map

In the beginning, travel back in time to discover and learn Singapore’s deep historical roots and its prominence on a regional and global scale, long before the arrival of the British in 1819. Observe the maps on display inside this section, learn about how much of Singapore’s neighbouring waters were surveyed and drawn on those maps, prior to the arrival of the Sir Stamford Raffles and the East India Company into Singapore in 1819.

There are key artefacts on display inside this first section, showcasing Singapore’s strategic position at a crossroads of global flows, as one of the key port settlements in the Malay World and Chinese trade networks. 

Second Section – The River Road

As you continue travelling through history and time inside Once Upon a Tide, sail through the history of Singapore River. How important is Singapore River in Singapore’s maritime history and heritage? The evolution of Singapore River also mirrors the economic development of Singapore.

Singapore River played key roles in Singapore’s maritime trade routes, with known trading settlements along the Singapore River. Over the centuries, the Singapore River played a vital role in shaping Singapore’s transformation into a global trading hub, from coaling to shipbuilding industries, becoming an icon of Singapore’s growth and progress. 

There is a Sampan Challenge for visitors to take on! Come and “row across” the Singapore River!

Third Section – Expanding Horizons

For a small island country, Singapore grew bigger through land reclamation, as she has to constantly deal with land scarcity. Through land reclamation, this allows the widening of further development and growth, and also reshaping Singapore’s relationship with the sea.

There is a digital slider map that you have to experience it for yourself, you can visually trace and view the changing coastlines of Singapore across the centuries, from the colonial times to modern Singapore today.

Forth Section – Flows of People

Singapore’s identity is built on the bedrock of multiculturalism. Flows of People pays tribute to individuals that laid the hard work and foundations for Singapore’s development into a modern cosmopolitan city, from the early settlers to modern workers of today. 

For this section, it examines the living experiences of the people who built our nation, provided transport services, those that defended Singapore, and those that cared for others within society. Through intimate audio and video testimonials, visitors can hear directly from them, and be inspired by members of these communities. 

Check out the photographic artefacts and personal mementos, offering insights into the various trades, and also a slice of the diversity of those that helped to build the nation of today’s Singapore.

Fifth Section – Making Waves

At the finale section, Making Waves is dedicated to giving spotlight to Singaporeans, homegrown businesses and organisations that make waves and headlines globally, across the areas of diplomacy, humanitarian efforts, innovation and hub development from 1965 to the present day.

On the wall of this section, there is a quote/question, “How do we define success today? What does it mean to make an impact on the world?” Check out the stories of Singaporeans trailblazers who travelled on the road less travelled, redefining success and shaping an ever-evolving Singaporean identity on the world stage.

Don’t miss the Singlish words that make it into Oxford Dictionary, our favourite local cuisines celebrated around the world, celebrate Singapore’s uniqueness that gained international recognition. Do take part in an interactive Singlish quiz to test your knowledge of Singaporean language that has become a cultural marker of pride.

There is a diverse range of artefacts that document Singapore’s achievements across various fields that are on display, they are tangible reminders of Singapore’s global prominence. From athletes Joseph Schooling, Maximilian Maeder, Shanti Pereira, and Loh Kean Yew, to pianist Margaret Leng Tan, and filmmaker Eric Khoo, among others. 

If you are inspired by the stories and artefacts inside this section, you are invited to contribute objects and stories as part of National Museum’s Collecting Contemporary Singapore initiative that returns this year, with a focus on “Wave Makers”.

Your contributions will help National Museum of Singapore build up their collection and tell more diverse stories of Singaporeans who make us proud globally. For more information on this public call, please visit National Museum of Singapore website. 

Shaping Your Future: What does the future hold? What paths will Singapore take?

Before you exit the exhibition, you are invited to reflect and share, on how Singapore’s identity and definition of success have evolved over time through an RFID-based personalised experience. 

The questions are spread across the exhibition sections, and you van use the RFID wristbands collected at the start of the exhibition to answer them.

At the end of the exhibition, visitors will be assigned one of four avatars based on their response throughout the experience. Each avatar reflects one’s individual values, priorities, and aspirations for Singapore’s future. They also contribute to a larger cityscape visual that represents the collective vision of the future of Singapore, co-created by all who participated. 

Get Curious! Building Our Singapore

The National Museum of Singapore Children’s Season is a highly anticipated event, returning with Get Curious! Building Our Singapore, designed as a complement to Once Upon a Tide. 

Introducing younger visitors to the builders of Singapore

This year’s Children’s Season continues the journey for discovery for young visitors, especially on the themes of people who built Singapore, and how Singapore continues to build her identity and “Make Waves” internationally, in tandem with the Once Upon a Tide exhibition sections four and five, Flows of People & Making Waves.

This year’s Children’s Season edition features an interactive installation and an intergenerational showcase – Get Curious! Building Our Singapore and Our Mama Shop showcase. 

The installation invites children to explore how different communities contributed to the growth of Singapore. At the Our Mama Shop showcase, children can connect and learn more about our common Singapore identity and uniquely local cultural elements. 

My Personal Journey across Once Upon a Tide

This journey across into Once Upon a Tide was a very enriching and learning experience for me. The content and curation goes a lot deeper and further than what learn in our history books in school, and the time before Sir Stamford Raffles arrival in 1819.

In the first section, this was an area of great interest to me. What was Singapore like before the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819? That’s so much more to learn about Singapore’s history!

For those who love reading and analysing maps of all kinds (navigation, topographical etc), Once Upon a Tide will definitely interest you greatly, as it has done for me. Just by walking through the maps from the first section to the fifth section, you can see for yourselves how much Singapore has transformed over the centuries. 

A worthy and fitting theme, Once Upon a Tide is a rich and intense history, heritage and cultural exhibition to mark Singapore’s (SG60) 60th anniversary celebrations, how Singapore is making waves around the world, even though we are a young and small country (by land size). 

Once Upon a Tide and Children’s Season Information and Admission Details

Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City

• Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Exhibition Gallery 1 and 2, Basement Level 
• Date: 24 May 2025 – 9 October 2026
• Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm daily (last ticket sales at 6pm, last gallery admission at 630pm)

Admission Fee: 

• Free admission for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents
• Tickets range from $18 (Concession) to $24 (Tourists and non Permanent Residents)

For more information, please visit https://go.gov.sg/onceuponatide 

Get Curious! Building Our Singapore

Entry to Get Curious! Building Our Singapore installation and showcase are free for all. Some programmes are ticketed. 

• Date: 24 May – 29 June
• Opening Hours: 10am – 12:30pm, 1:30pm – 6pm daily
• Venue: Gallery Theatre Foyer, Basement

Our Mama Shop Intergenerational Showcase

1. Date: 24 May – 29 June
2. Opening Hours: 10am – 12:30pm, 1:30pm – 6pm daily 
3. Venue: The Salon, Level 1

For more information on Children’s Season, please visit https://go.gov.sg/nms-cs2025 

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