Welcome to twelve Museum landmark in Kuching, Sarawak!
They are treasure troves and custodians of comprehensive collections, exhibits and books on the history, natural history, tradisions and beliefs of the multi-ethnic peoples of Sarawak and Borneo unearthed through years of research. Collected, salvaged and preserved for you for 120 years.
Sarawak Museums - Your sources of real inspiration
The Sarawak Museums a major landmark in Kuching,it was in 1891 and was extended to its present form in 1911. This magnificent building of Victorian Architecture is one of the oldest museums in south East Asia.A mixed museum, it is the midst of being turned into Ethnology Museum.You will have the opportunity to see the vanishing tradisional way of life, cultures and beliefs of the indigenous multi-ethnic groups of Sarawak, their ancient weapons, arts and crafts, old photographs and models of Dayak longhouses. The walls are adorned with fascinating native murals.
Kubu Margherita
It is named after Renee Margaret, wife of Sir Charles Brookes, the second rajah of Sarawak.Its design is based on the English Renaissance fortress and castle. In 1971, it was used as a police museum and now preserved as a fort.This is one of the best known historical monuments and a major landmark in Kuching City.Construction of the building began in 1878 and was completed in 1879.It has since then served as a garrision, armory, prison, lookout and sentry point.
Textile Museum
Built in 1907 as a medical centre, it later became the headquarters of the Education Department.Its architecture is a mixture of the English Renaissance and English Colonial.This museum is housed at the Pavilion, a beautiful historical building in a the heart of Kuching City.
It is divided into four main galleries depicting the processes of the preparation of raw materials,weaving, costume motifs, accessories and wedding costumes.Visitors can see authentic local textiles and costumes made by the ethnic community of Sarawak. The exhibition flow follows the process of making a textile which starts with the raw material, through the weaving stage and ends with the finished product.Visitors are also given the opportunity of hands-on experience on the loom and 'touch
on' exhibits.
Chinese History Museum
It is situated within the popular Kuching Waterfront. The museum portrays the rich and fascinating history of Sarawak's diverse Chinese dialectical groups.This historic building, built in 1912,was used as a court by the immigrant Chinese community to administer their laws and customs before it was taken over by Chinese Chamber of Commerce for a number of years.Browsing through the interesting exhibits, visitors are able to acquire in-depth knowledge relating to the origin of each dialectical group, their respective traditional skills and cultural heritage and progress.
Art Museum
It will contain a wide collection of paintings, raging from the Brooke period to present times.Know occuping the former State Archive and Library section of the museum, this annex is to be converted into an Art Museum.
Museum Dewan Tun Abdul Razak
Situated just across the road from the Sarawak Museum. It houses several rotating exhibition galleries, an administrative centre, souvenir shop,a cafe and an activity centre.The present exhibitions are Borneo Pottery and The Ceramic Story.This hall was named after the second Prime Minister of Malaysia. It was previously used as a State Assembly Hall from 1973 until 1982 when it was converted into a museum exhibition gallery.
Natural History Museum
The museum offers you the rare privilege of seeing what might have gone of of out of sight. Here, your encounter with preserved and reassembled skeletons of mammals, invertebrates, reptiles, birds, insects, fish and shells endemic to Sarawak or Borneo which may be extinct or near extinct can be your life time experience to treasure. It is planned to be open in 2008. This museum is the site of the former administrative centre of the department.
Islamic Museum
Situated behind Dewan Tun Abdul Razak, this building was formerly known as Kolej James Brooke, or Maderasah Melayu. Sarawak in 1930 when it was used as a college to train teacher in higher Malay studies. It has a unique architecture and is said to be the only one of its kind in Sarawak. Know it has seven galleries depicting the History of Islam in Sarawak, Islamic Architecture, Islamic Science and Technology, Economy, Education and Literature, Islamic Music, Costumes and Personal Ornaments, Islamic Decorative Arts and Domestic Utensils, Islamic Weaponry and the Holy Quran Collection.
Limbang Regional Museum
This museum was an old fort built in 1897. Like the other forts, it first served as a fort to fend off the attacks of insurgent natives before it was used for administrative purposes. Burnt down in 1989, it was rebuilt on the exact site, maintaining the original design and architecture.
On display are items depicting the history and culture of the multi-ethnic people in this region, such as the indigenous musical instruments used in their locally popular bamboo band, salt making process, beadwork, bark clothes, brassware and other interesting artifacts.
Museum Arkeologi Niah
The museum was built in 1998. Situated close to the archaeological sites of the world famous Great Niah Cave. It also exhibits the stone-age artifacts from caves and culture of the people living in this area now. The museum gives visitors the unique experience of seeing the way of life of the pre-historic people who dwelled in the cave 40,000 years ago.
Museum Wilayah Baram
Originally known as Fort Hose, it was built in 1898 as a fort on top of the hill overlooking the mighty Baram River to thwart the onslaught of marauding rebels opposed to the Brooke Regime.Although burnt down in 1994, it was rebuilt on the exact site following the original design and architecture before it was declared as a museum.
Items on display comprise historical and cultural artifacts belonging to various ethnic groups living in the area. Other exhibits include the present day economic and other activities of the local people.
Petroleum Museum
This museum completed in 2005, is built to keep in perpetuity the history of petroleum industry in Sarawak and its enormous contribution to the development and prosperity of Miri City and Sarawak in general.This museum sits atop Oil Well Hill(formerly Canada Hill) next to the Grand Old Lady, a derrick that was once the site of the first oil production in Sarawak built in 1910.Through amazing displays and interactive exhibits, visitors are able to appreciate the role played by science and technology in oil exploration, production, refining and distribution.
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