100th Centenary of National Museum of Singapore 12.10.1987

The National Museum of Singapore is a national museum in Singapore and the oldest museum in Singapore. Its history dates back to 1849 when it was started as a section of a library at Singapore Institution. After several relocations, the Museum was relocated to its permanent site at Stamford Road at the Museum Planning Area in 1887.

The Museum is one of the four national museums in the country, the other three being the two Asian Civilisations Museums at Empress Place Building and Old Tao Nan School, and the Singapore Art Museum. The museum focuses on exhibits related to the history of Singapore. The Museum was named the National Museum of Singapore in 1965. For a brief period between 1993 and March 2006, it was known as the Singapore History Museum, before reverting to its previous name. The Museum underwent a three-and-a-half-year restoration and reopened on December 2, 2006, with the Singapore History Gallery opening on December 8 of the same year.

The revamped National Museum was officially opened by former President of Singapore S R Nathan and Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang on 7 December 2006.

The three stamps displayed above the pencil drawing of the National Museum were issued on its 100^th Centenary on 12^th October, 1987. The 10 cent stamp shows the Majapahit gold bracelet; one of the rare archeological clues to Singapore’s ancient past.

Depicted on the 75 cents stamp is the Ming fluted kendi; an interesting blue-and-white water vessel with designs which are influenced by Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic art.

The Patani hulu pekakak keris; a keris with 17 waves and silver hilt and sheath is found on the $1 stamp. The Arabic inscription on the blade reads: “Sultan Abdul Jalil Sanat 1699 A.D. Thursday Morning 15 October”.