National Museum of Singapore, Singapore (must see)

The National Museum of Singapore is the oldest museum in the city. It displays collections related to the history of the city and the archaeological values of Singapore and Asia. The museum's building is designed in the Neo-Palladian and Renaissance styles. There is a glass rotunda.

Its most precious artefacts are the Singapore Stone, the Gold Ornaments of the Sacred Hill from East Java, Daguerreotype of Singapore Town which was one of the earliest photographs of Singapore, the will of Munshi Abdullah, the portrait of Frank Athelstane Swettenham, the hearse of Tan Jiak Kim, a Peranakan coffin cover, the mace of the City of Singapore commemorating King George VI's raising of the island's status to a city in 1951, the Xin Sai Le puppet stage, William Farquhar's drawings of flora and fauna and the portrait of Shenton Thomas, who was the former governor of Singapore.

Why You Should Visit:
A good place to understand Singapore's national pride and collective identity.
The building itself is flashy, with a very modern addition and interesting details all around.

Tip:
Be sure to take one of the complimentary guided tours. They last an hour and the guides are knowledgeable and entertaining.
The 3rd level of the museum has an exit to Fort Canning Park. From there you can explore the park and visit the Battlebox, a museum/tour of a military bunker located inside the hill.

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am-7pm

Last admission times:
Gallery10: 5pm; Glass Rotunda: 6:15pm; All other galleries: 6:30pm