Peranakan Museum
39 Armenian Street,
Singapore 179941
Tel: +65 6332 7591
Fax: +65 6883 0732
Email:
Website: www.peranakanmuseum.sg
The Peranakan Museum houses the world's finest and most comprehensive collection of Peranakan artifacts. This museum explores the culture of Peranakan communities in the former Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang and their links with other communities in Southeast Asia. Its rich material legacy and heritage are enhanced by state-of-the-art display technology, coupled with educational interactive's for the young.
The Peranakan Museum explores the main themes of Peranakan life in ten permanent galleries. They include the elaborate 12-day Peranakan wedding, the role of the Nonyas, prominent Peranakans in Singapore's history, as well as one of the favourite past times of Singaporean's - food and feasting. It also provides a glimpse of how modern-day Peranakans have evolved with their culture.
(Source: Peranakan Museum)
Peranakan Museum is currently housed in the former Tao Nan School Building. It's architectural plans were drawn up and approved by the Municipal Engineer's Office in 1910. Construction of the building itself was completed in March 1912 and lessons were taught in Hokkien, a Chinese dialect, and later in 1916 Mandarin replaced Hokkien as the medium of instruction - the first non-Hokkien principal, Xiong Shangfu, a native of Hunan province, was hired to implement the Mandarin syllabus.
When World War II started, Tao Nan terminated its classes at the start of 1942 and was occupied by the Japanese army. Immediately after the war, the Hokkien Huay Kuan took charge of the repairs to the school and Tao Nan reopened in Oct 1945, two months after the Japanese surrendered.
In 1976, the Hokkien Huay Kuan decided that Tao Nan should move from the city to cater to the rising number of pupils in the suburbs. In 1982, Tao Nan surrendered its Armenian Street premises and relocated to Marine Parade. Preparations for the inaugural exhibition of the Asian Civilisations Museum began in 1994. The ACM closed at the end of 2005 to be redeveloped as a new museum - the Peranakan Museum.
Guided Tour by the Museum's volunteers. Monday 2pm, Tuesday to Friday 11am & 2pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am, 2pm and 3pm. Baba Bling Guided Tours are on Wednesday & Thursday at 12.30pm. There are also tours in Mandarin, Japanese... more information on these tour timings and all other tour information please visit their website.
Peranakan Museum is currently housed in the former
Dec 2009.