October 10, 2026 onwards
Permanent exhibition

National Museum of Singapore
Singapore History Gallery, Level 2

The redesigned gallery presents more than 700 years of Singapore’s history through historical artefacts, new research, personal stories and interactive multimedia installations. Its updated, people-centred narrative examines how Singapore’s identity has developed and continues to evolve, while inviting visitors to consider their own place within that history.

The exhibition unfolds across seven chronological sections: Fluid Beginnings, Colonial City, Fall of the Fortress, Towards a New Identity, Becoming Singapore, Being Singaporean and Looking Global. Together, they trace Singapore’s development from its early maritime history and colonial transformation to Japanese occupation, self-governance, independence and its position within an increasingly connected world.

Highlights include the Singapore Stone, objects recovered from a 14th-century shipwreck, archival photographs and personal belongings, as well as Zubir Said’s piano, on which he composed Singapore’s national anthem, Majulah Singapura. Visitors can also encounter a restored HDB lift, interactive installations exploring Singapore’s food and popular culture, and a time-lapse film by photographer Keith Loutit documenting nearly 15 years of urban development.

New voice-recording stations appear throughout the gallery, inviting visitors to respond to questions connected to each historical period. These contributions are brought together in the final immersive installation, where visitors’ reflections form a collective vision of Singapore’s future.

The reopening coincides with the National Museum of Singapore’s 139th anniversary celebrations, Stories of Everyday, taking place from 10 to 18 October 2026. The programme includes performances, talks, installations, a living and design market, and the debut of Stoney, the museum’s new mascot inspired by the Singapore Stone.

The reopening also marks the completion of the museum’s three-year restoration. Further permanent galleries on Level 2 are scheduled to reopen in early 2027, in time for the museum’s 140th anniversary.

More information: https://www.nationalmuseum.nhb.gov.sg/whats-on/exhibition/singapore-history-gallery