Did you know that there is actually a natural history museum in Singapore? I have lived in Singapore for more than 20 years and I have only recently discovered that Singapore has its own natural history museum. It is nowhere as big as New York City’s American Museum of Natural History featured in the movie trilogy “Night at the Museum”, but this new discovery still made me pretty excited. I decided to visit Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum to check it out for myself.
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum Opening Hours
Tuesdays – Sundays 10am – 7pm (closed on Mondays)
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum Ticket Prices
The admission charges for Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is S$16 for Singapore residents and S$21 for foreigners. Singapore children (3-12 years old), students/NSF, senior citizens and disabled people pay S$9 while foreign children (3-12 years old), students and senior citizens pay S$13.
The ticket price is inclusive of S$1 mandatory SISTIC booking fee.
You can pay with NETS, credits cards, Alipay and Wechat Pay, no cash payment allowed.
There are also complimentary museum tours in both English and Chinese conducted by volunteers. English tours are held at 1pm on Thursdays and Friday, 11am and 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Chinese tours are at 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Please enquire at the ticketing counter or call 66013333.
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum Location
Address: 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377
How to get there: get off at Botanic Gardens (Circle Line) MRT station and take bus 151.
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum’s History
Sir Stamford Raffles established the Singapore Institution in 1823, which was later renamed Raffles Library and Museum in 1874. Raffles Museum was renamed the National Museum of Singapore in 1965.
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum was formally established as an independent academic unit under National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Sciences on 1 April 2014. The museum inherited the natural history collection from the Raffles Museum.
The seven-storey building of Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum has a total area of 8500 square meters, housing more than a million specimens from throughout the region.
The 2500 square meters public gallery consists of 15 zones, showcasing some 2000 specimens.
You will be given an information booklet like this together with your admission ticket. This booklet will give you a rough history of this museum and the specimens to look out for.
Diplodocid sauropods are among the largest and heaviest animals to ever walk on earth. The museum’s three diplodocid sauropod fossils are 80% complete, two of these skeletons come with skulls – rarity in diplodocid sauropod fossils.
Found between 2007 and 2010 in a quarry in a small town in the United States called Ten Sleep, they are believed to be part of a herd or even a family.
The Singapore Sperm Whale (physeter macrocephalus) was found dead off Jurong Island on 10 July 2015. Sperm whales are the largest toothed whale and largest tooth predator. A fully-grown sperm whale typically measures 50-55 feet long and weigh around 35-45 tons.
Rafflesia (Rafflesia Arnoldii) and Titan Arum (Amorphophallus Titanum) are two of the largest flowers in the world. They are native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. Due to the rotting smell they give off, they are also known as “corpse flower”.
The Japanese Spider Crab (Macrocheira Kaempferi) is the largest crab, it can grow up to 18 feet and weigh up to 42 pounds.
There are many other specimens such as crocodiles, marine creatures, birds and insects.
The mezzanine floor is the heritage gallery, which showcases the natural history of Singapore.
You can buy souvenirs from The Museum Shop located at the exit.
A trip to Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is an educational experience for both children and adults alike.
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Address: 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377
Opening Hours: Tuesdays – Sundays 10am – 7pm (closed on Mondays)
Website: https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg”