Contrary to popular misconceptions, the museum or more correctly the Musaeum in Alexandria, which was attached to the infamous Library, was not the first museum ever in the world. Generally the earliest museums were attributed to Plato though there was not enough evidence to substantiate the claim.
The word museum is derived from the Greek word Mouseion, which means a place of worship dedicated to the Muses, the Goddesses of the arts, science and literature.
But what does museum mean? Merriam-Webster defines it as,
“: an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value; also : a place where objects are exhibited”
There are many and all kinds of museums out there, from major collections generally in cities to smaller general collections or even smaller collections to a specific subject or person.
Unbelievably as it is, in Singapore itself, there are 51 museums spread all across the island! Yes… and so Yours Truly has taken the liberty of giving you a grand tour of the least known ones.
Mint Museum of Toys
26 Seah Street,
Singapore 188382
Tel: +65 6339 0660
Everybody loves toys. Who won’t? It accompanies us from infanthood all through adolescence to adulthood and finally in our dotage. Hence it does not come across as too big a surprise that a museum is devoted to the item of life.
Unfortunately for the hefty price tag of SGD$15.00, the toy “museum” is a little tad teensy weensy small; twenty minutes is all you need to finish the grand tour of the place!
Let’s face it… unless you have a really special interest in the subject, you’ll be better off looking at the gazillion numbers of toys in toy stores in the malls. Plus it’s free!
Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research
Department of Biological Sciences,
Faculty of Science,
National University of Singapore,
Block S6, #03-01, Science Drive 2,
Singapore 117546
Tel: +65 6516 5082
This humble institute is all about the fabric of life and how each species co-exists with another in Singapore’s fragile eco-system. It is pretty fascinating if you are interested in such topics and of course, dead animals.
What… what? Dead animals?
Well sure! They have tons of dead animals on displayed there. Or more accurately, they have a gallery devoted to taxidermy where you can view with wonder at the rich fauna our tiny little island boasts of.
Do know we have tigers once living here on this island?
Memories at Old Ford Factory
351 Upper Bukit Timah Road,
Singapore 588192
Tel: +65 6462 6724
Despite the name, if you are expecting to see rows and rows of gleaming antiquated models of Ford cars, you will be sorely disappointed; Yours Truly was all looking forward to re-enact the infamous sweaty hand love scene ala Rose & Jack in the Titanic movie with an apprehensive partner in toil!
Instead this is a museum of World War II exhibits, photographs, maps and archival repositories. It is also the very site where the British surrendered Singapore to the Japanese.
Just what we all need. More museums about World War II! As if the exhibits in the National Museum isn’t enough!
Singapore City Gallery
45 Maxwell Road,
The URA Centre,
Singapore 069118
Tel: +65 6321 8321
This is another absurd museum in Yours Truly’s opinion.
So you pay SGD$6.00 to see miniature models of the buildings in Singapore and “learn” about the “exciting” architectural evolution in our vast 180 years of city building? Serious? I mean seriously?
A plate of chicken rice with extra drumstick seems more worthwhile.
Grassroots Heritage Centre
National Community Leadership Institute,
70 South Buona Vista Road,
Singapore 118176
Tel: +65 6474 4241
This is the place for all syncophants, bootlickers and yes-men eager to learn the art of doorknob polishing. A whole venue dedicated to the origins and growth of the People’s Association with stirring first hand accounts, pictures, audio reels, exhibits and artefacts.
Unless you are looking into a long-term life long vocation with Big Brother, give this a miss. You have more excitement looking at your toenails grow.
Land Transport Gallery
1 Hampshire Road,
Blk 1 Level 1,
Singapore 219428
Tel: +65 6396 2550
Learn about the stages of Singapore’s land transport development…okay we have rickshaws, buses and taxies, and more buses and taxies.
Uh okay. Groundbreaking.
At least admission is free.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Heritage Museum
11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng,
Level 1
Singapore 308433
Tel: +65 6357 8266
Okay this is marginally interesting because as we all know Tan Tock Seng Hospital is named after its very own founder, Tan Tock Seng, who came over to Singapore from Malacca in 1819.
Here you will learn more about the man and also get to take a look at his collection of Peranakan items, and as well as artifacts from the hospital from the 1800s.
The SGH Museum
Singapore General Hospital,
Bowyer Block Clock Tower,
11 Third Hospital Avenue,
Singapore 168751
Tel: +65 6326 5294
This just makes no sense at all. As far as we know there is no one vaguely historic associated with this hospital and it was merely built because there was a lack of medical care among the European soldiers and seafarers stationed in Singapore.
Sure the hospital is almost 200 years old but it is mostly about the building’s personal history. Other than a slight medical history, this museum mostly charts the flow of the country’s historic moments, of which you can already get to know from the National Museum.
Oh well at least it is free admission!
NEWater Visitor Centre
20 Koh Sek Lim Road,
Singapore 486593
Tel: +65 6546 7874
One man’s meat is another man’s poison. Or rather in this case, one man’s sewage waste is another man’s drinking water.
This venue gives you an insight to what NEWater is and how it is produced. Okay but why on earth would anyone be vaguely interested in how we turn shit water into drinking water?
Oh yes you also get a complimentary bottle of shitwater for free. Produced by Singaporeans literally and made by Singaporeans. Truly a unique Singaporean product!
IRAS Gallery – The Singapore Tax Story
1st storey, Revenue House,
55 Newton Road,
Singapore 307987
Tel: +65 6351 2076
At last the crème de la crème of obscure museums in Singapore.
A museum solely dedicated to tax.
WOW!!!!
You get to view “artifacts” like old embossing machines, kits for tax officers, rubber stamps and many many more tax related items. There is also a interactive trail that lets you discover how tax has evolved in Singapore and a Q&A section that will answer all your wonderful all time queries like “What in Hades do you guys do with our taxes?”
Even though admission is free, you have to be really really absolutely bored with nothing else better to do and have way too much spare time on your hand to go through a “museum” of tax.
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So there you go.
10 of the most obscure museums here in Singapore. Museums that you would never even have possibly imagine could exist. Museums on subjects that ranged from interesting to downright ridiculous, or at least in the mind of Yours Truly.
Perhaps there is something for everyone.
Enjoy gallivanting about in the museums!
Till next time, this is Yours Truly signing off!
Wa…I have not visited any of the museums listed above…
I did not even know they exist until I read this article!