The National Museum of Singapore (NMS) is set to reopen the fully revamped Singapore History Gallery on October 10, offering visitors an immersive exploration of the city-state’s multifaceted past through a blend of artefacts, art, and multimedia storytelling.
The updated 2,230-square-metre gallery—which took approximately 11 months to refurbish—features seven thematic sections tracing Singapore’s history from its pre-colonial maritime roots to the present day. These sections include Fluid Beginnings (1300s to 1800s), Colonial City (1800s to 1930s), Fall of the Fortress (Japanese Occupation, late 1930s to 1940s), Towards a New Identity (post-war period, 1950s to 1960s), Becoming Singapore (early independence years, 1960s to 1980s), Being Singaporean (cultural development in the 1980s and 1990s), and Looking Global (2000s to today).
One highlight is a restored 1970s windowless lift from Ang Mo Kio, complete with the audio of Ng Yew Kiat’s 1976 poem The Lift, allowing visitors to experience the technological novelty and social context of early high-rise living. This installation exemplifies the museum’s broader multidisciplinary approach, which seeks to enliven static displays through art and narrative.
The gallery incorporates works by prominent Singaporean artists, including a painting of a communal meal on banana leaves by Chua Mia Tee, and the 1980 poem "2 mothers in a hdb playground" by Cultural Medallion recipient Arthur Yap. Music also plays a key role; while visitors cannot physically interact with National Anthem composer Zubir Said’s piano, they can listen to his compositions. These artistic elements complement historical objects, aiming to deepen visitor engagement and contextual understanding.
Digital features are integrated throughout the exhibition. Visitors can try a weighted interactive that simulates the effort of a rickshaw puller or examine 3D renderings of the enigmatic Singapore Stone, an artefact dating from the 101st to 14th century, enhancing access to difficult-to-interpret historical items.
The gallery also foregrounds diverse narratives, notably those of indigenous coastal communities. Interviews with Orang Laut members and photographs of the Orang Seletar community by Jefree Salim provide modern perspectives alongside maritime artefacts, connecting pre-colonial history with contemporary identities. This inclusion addresses ongoing dialogue about Singapore’s history prior to British colonisation and highlights the continued cultural relevance of these communities.
Principal curator Daniel Tham, supported by eight curators, emphasizes the gallery’s commitment to making history resonate with today’s audiences. Visitors have opportunities to contribute their reflections via audio recordings at various stations, which will be incorporated into a dynamic, evolving representation of Singapore’s landscape in the exhibition’s final room.
The reopening of the Singapore History Gallery marks part of a broader series of events commemorating 139 years of the National Museum, titled Stories Of Everyday, running from October 10 to 18. It also precedes the planned full reopening of the Level 2 Life In Singapore Galleries in early 2027, which will offer a more detailed examination of Singapore’s historical periods.
At the centre of the revamped gallery is a central inquiry: “Who are we?” Through its diverse exhibits, the museum gestures to Singapore’s rich heritage, connectivity, and waves of migration over centuries. A contemporary symbol of this quest for identity is “Stoney,” the museum’s new mascot—an anthropomorphised representation of the Singapore Stone with a perpetually grumpy expression. As curator Tham notes, Stoney embodies the unresolved questions about history and identity, reflecting both the mysteries of the past and the ongoing search to understand them.