The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum at National University of Singapore is the country’s only museum dedicated to showcasing Southeast Asian biodiversity and first opened its doors to the public in April 2015.
The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is home to over 560,000 catalogued lots, and over a million specimens from throughout the region; from the microscopic to the enormous, and from the unusual to the awesome.
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Exploring Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
The Museum building is planted with local plants to make look like a vegetated cliff face. Inside, there are 20 zones spread over two floors.
Biodiversity Gallery
The Biodiversity Gallery of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is located on the ground floor is the very first gallery you’ll experience upon entry.
The Biodiversity Gallery is made up of 15 zones, tracing the history of life on earth, with different sections devoted to the origin of life and all major branches of the Tree of Life.
It starts off with a look at plants and flowers.
The rest are thematic zones dedicated to scientific knowledge, exploring topics such as how terrestrial vertebrates evolved from life in the water, and why birds are actually “dinosaurs”.
While the zones are clearly segregated, they are also seamlessly integrated into one massive exhibition gallery.
There are numerous totem poles which provide visitors with a summary of the section you’re at.
What is especially nice about the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is that there are specific exhibits where visitors are to touch and feel. These exhibits are marked out with little hand icon stuck to the side of these exhibits.
Interactive Exhibits
Families with young children who are visiting the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum will appreciate having such “touch and feel” exhibits that are perfect for little hands and minds to explore and learn.
In fact, many of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum’s exhibits have been designed to engage the visitors if not through touch, then through sight or sound.
Strategically placed multimedia booths within the Biodiversity Gallery include videos of rare and interesting animals, and commentaries by the researchers on their work at the Museum. Little ones will enjoy picking up the earpieces, and listening to the “stories”.
Some of the other interesting sights at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum include the skeleton of a sperm whale that was found dead off Jurong Island on 10 July 2015. You can even see where there are missing bones where it was injured.
Another fascinating item in the collection is the horn of a narwhal. This was gifted to Whampoa by the Russians.
More Galleries to Explore at the Singapore Natural History Museum
Other galleries that you can explore around the museum include the marine animal gallery.
There is also a the mammal gallery that features taxidermy specimens of animals found in the local and surrounding regions.
There is also a gallery devoted to the fauna found in the rainforest ecosystem. This features fascinating animals such as colugos.
Dinosaur Zone at Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
The centrepiece of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum’s Biodiversity Gallery is the Dinosaur Zone.
Fun fact: the three diplodocid sauropod skeletons – nicknamed Prince, Apollonia and Twinky – were found between 2007 and 2010 at a quarry in Wyoming in the United States of America, and are believed to be part of the same herd or even family.
Each of them is about 80% complete, making them amongst the most intact dinosaur fossils ever found in the world. In addition, two of these skeletons come with skulls – a rarity as far as sauropod dinosaurs fossils are concerned.
Heritage Gallery
The Heritage Gallery is located at the mezzanine floor and includes five exhibit zones, which pays homage to the Museum’s heritage by presenting an account of the museum’s development and tracing the relationship between Singapore’s development and its natural history.
The Heritage Gallery’s layout is intentionally styled like an old-school museum with specimens on display in dark wooden cabinets, also known as the Cabinets of Curiosity.
Grown-ups and older children will enjoy exploring the different drawers and opening doors to see what lies within. These cabinets offer a chance to tickle the sense of curiosity in both adults and kids.
There are glass displays of artefacts and drawers full of information cards on the various exhibits.
The Heritage Gallery also has a small room that hosts revolving exhibitions.
Alfred Wallace is a significant figure when it comes to natural history in this region. Therefore, it is fascinating to look at a map on the wall that charts out his travels through the Malay Archipelago.
The Heritage Gallery, being on the mezzanine floor, is also a good spot to get a different and upclose, face-to-face look at the dinosuars.
Gift Shop at the Singapore Natural History Museum
As you leave the galleries, you will find the museum’s gift shop to the right of the exit. This gift shop is stocked with interesting items, especially if you have kids who are crazy about dinosaurs with you. Of course, it helps that there is a giant cardboard dinosaur greeting you at the shop entrance.
Beside the plush toys of dinosaurs, other interesting find at the gift shop include geological rocks and minerals, books about wildlife and other little curiosities. It is worth popping into the shop for a quick browse about.
Visiting Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
The museum is located beside the University Cultural Centre at Kent Ridge. For those who drive, there is an open-air carpark (Carpark 3A) located just behind the museum.
It is also useful to know that, as of October 2024, the museum has a Birthday Month Promotion. Pay a visit to the museum during your birthday month and present your official identification card or document at the ticketing counter to receive a complimentary admission ticket and our special edition museum enamel pin. This promotion is valid for all visitors, regardless of residency and exclusive to the birthday person only (non-transferrable) during their birthday month.
The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum at the National University of Singapore is opened Tuesdays to Sundays and Public Holidays from 10 am to 7 pm, with the last admission at 4.30 pm. It is closed on Mondays.
There are three visit sessions per day for capacity control purposes. These are at 10 am, 1 pm and 4 pm.
Where: 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377
Website: Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
