{"id":1181,"date":"2021-12-28T21:19:58","date_gmt":"2021-12-29T02:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/?p=1181"},"modified":"2023-02-02T00:58:59","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T05:58:59","slug":"8-singapore-museums-that-will-leave-you-in-awe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/?p=1181","title":{"rendered":"8 Singapore Museums That Will Leave You in Awe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The days of museums filled with old, tired and dull exhibits are long gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Museums today offer full sensory experiences for visitors, with interactive, immersive galleries that will leave you engaged and enlightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re into history, art, science, or design, Singapore\u2019s outstanding museums – some of the best in Asia – will leave you in awe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Museum of Singapore<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If you want to delve into Lion City\u2019s fascinating history, then the\u00a0National Museum of Singapore\u00a0should be at the top of your list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 1887 as the Raffles Library and Museum, this museum, now housed in a stately neoclassical building, spans 18,400 square meters and boasts six cutting-edge galleries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A popular draw is the Singapore History Gallery, where visitors are taken on an immersive journey through the nation\u2019s history,\u00a0starting from the 14th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also the Story of the Forest, a mesmerizing installation that transforms the natural history drawings of Singapore\u2019s first British resident\u00a0William Farquhar\u00a0into 3D animations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Living Galleries, which feature everything from Singapore\u2019s fashion and film through the eras, are equally as fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don\u2019t leave without visiting the Moving Memories. This section lets you experience old Singapore sights, sounds, and scents through animated life-size murals, digital projections, and real-life soundscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ArtScience Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Set within the integrated resort of Marina Bay Sands, the\u00a0ArtScience Museum, a modern structure that mimics a welcoming hand, is one of Singapore\u2019s most iconic architectural wonders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its exterior is as impressive as its interior, which features three stories of installations that inspire imagination by merging art, science, culture, and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 21 galleries with touring exhibits from museums worldwide, but Future World is the museum\u2019s only permanent exhibit – and one you shouldn\u2019t skip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This section is a collaborative installation with award-winning Japanese art collective teamLab; this section is filled with whimsical digital art and engaging, interactive installations, perfect for kids and grown-ups alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s plenty to see and do, from navigating your way through the trippy Crystal Universe that sparkles with 170,000 LED lights to areas where visitors\u2019 drawings are digitally rendered onto large screens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The\u00a0Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum\u00a0officially opened in 2015, but its collection dates 1878.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the museum – housed in a seven-story green building on the National University of Singapore grounds – has amassed over a million specimens of flora and fauna from across Southeast Asia, with more than 2,000 specimens on display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 15 zones dedicated to Mother Earth\u2019s many life forms, you won\u2019t run out of things to marvel at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feast your eyes on the 10.6-meter sperm whale that washed ashore Jurong Island in 2015, the leatherback turtle found in Singapore 138 years ago, or the big highlight – three dinosaur fossils from Wyoming, USA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The museum\u2019s beautifully landscaped phylogenetic gardens, furnished with all kinds of native plants, are also worth visiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asian Civilisations Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The first and only museum in the region dedicated to Asia\u2019s rich cultural diversity, the\u00a0Asian Civilisations Museum\u00a0(ACM), sits in the former Empress Place Building, a 154-year-old neoclassical beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The collection spans three levels which you can explore with daily guided tours or if you like going solo, audio tours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first level is devoted to Asia\u2019s long trade history, from treasures discovered in a Tang dynasty Chinese shipwreck to relics of furniture and decorative arts from centuries-old maritime routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to get acquainted with the roots of the region\u2019s myriad faiths, rituals, and a host of beautiful religious sculptures, level two is the go-to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, one of the museum\u2019s best collections is the newly minted space on the third floor. Opened in 2020, it features three galleries dedicated to decorative arts such as ceramics and jewelry and the\u00a0centuries-old evolution of fashion and textiles in Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singapore Art Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The\u00a0Singapore Art Museum\u00a0(SAM), the country\u2019s very first museum of its kind, is home to some of the most celebrated contemporary artworks in Southeast Asia and Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The primary wing, opened in 1996, is housed in the beautifully restored former St Joseph\u2019s Institution, a European Renaissance-style building constructed in 1867.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a spectrum of art forms from across the region lined up here, from photography and paintings to sound and light installations, videos, and sculptures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, the 86-year-old Catholic High School across the road was converted into SAM at 8Q, a fantastic art gallery and incubator space dedicated to the work of up-and-coming young artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NUS Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The\u00a0NUS Museum\u00a0has an astounding collection of over 8,000 artifacts and artworks divided into four galleries, three of which are located on the National University of Singapore grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out the Ng Eng Teng Collection – 1,200 sculptures, sketches, and paintings by this celebrated Singaporean artist – and the Lee Kong Chian Collection, featuring ancient Chinese pottery, jade, and classical ink paintings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The South and Southeast Asian Collection includes some contemporary works but mainly draws on the ancient aspects of Indian scriptures from the 9th century and textiles and ceramics from 18th century Singapore and Malaya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To appreciate the museum\u2019s fourth gallery – the incredible Straits Chinese Collection – make your way to the\u00a0NUS Baba House\u00a0on Neil Road, where the artifacts are showcased in a real-life Peranakan Chinese home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Science Centre Singapore<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The\u00a0Science Centre Singapore\u00a0is highly engaging, enjoyable, and educational. With such a wide variety of awesome interactive activities, you\u2019ll need a whole day to enjoy it fully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven spacious halls explore the wonders of science, from physics and chemistry to Earth science and astronomy, plus expansive outdoor spaces that include a kinetic garden and an observatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some standouts include Asia\u2019s most giant mirror maze filled with a dizzying number of mirrors and hallways, Phobia Square, a journey into the science of fear, as well as Butterflies Up Close, where you can witness the winged insect\u2019s metamorphosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another must-see is the Omni Theatre – Southeast Asia\u2019s first 8K 3D digital dome theatre – where you can enjoy an immersive, experiential tour of the galaxy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stop by the Curiosity Shop to snap up a couple of educational kits, science gadgets, and toys as souvenirs on your way out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red Dot Design Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Named after one of the world\u2019s most prestigious international design awards, the\u00a0Red Dot Design Museum\u00a0is a haven for anyone seeking creative inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boutique space, a sister of the\u00a0Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, Germany,\u00a0is the only museum in Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The geometrical, glass, and steel building sits along the Waterfront Promenade in Marina Bay and features a collection of Red Dot-winning designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Browse through thousands of innovative, aesthetically-pleasing, whimsical, and even whacky creations that range from sleek furniture and book lamps to 3D-printed backpacks and funky paperweights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also get yourself some excellent, locally designed products at the Design Museum Shop, or sip coffee and enjoy local desserts at the museum\u2019s cafe bar, furnished entirely with Red Dot award-winning pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temporarily closed until 8 April 2022.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The days of museums filled with old, tired and dull exhibits are long gone. Museums today offer full sensory experiences for visitors, with interactive, immersive galleries that will leave you engaged and enlightened. Whether you\u2019re into history, art, science, or design, Singapore\u2019s outstanding museums – some of the best in Asia – will leave you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1182,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[447],"tags":[147,49,145,146,85],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1181"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1181"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1183,"href":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1181\/revisions\/1183"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alllifing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}