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The National Archives of Singapore regularly organises exhibitions on various heritage/historical themes on Singapore. These exhibitions travel to schools and other public spaces such as community clubs and shopping centres throughout the year.

For booking enquiries, you may contact Assistant Manager (Exhibitions) at nhb_nasreg@nhb.gov.sg or call Tel: 6332 7423.

Below are some of the current titles and a short synopsis of each exhibition.

What do you know of Singapore in 1957? (3 sets of panels)

1957 was a year when Singapore experienced dynamic changes on the road to nationhood. While the Federation of Malaya gained its independence on 31 August that year, Singapore was still finding its own path as a fledgling nation. Dedicated statesmen fought fervently for Singapore’s right to political self-determination.

Trade and agriculture were pillars of the Singapore economy, with industrial production fast becoming an increasingly important economic development. Local administrators tackled the issues of high crime rate and overcrowding by building new housing estates, schools and hospitals across the island.

The National Archives of Singapore is proud to present "What do you know of Singapore in 1957?" This exhibition of photographs, plans and records will give a fruitful insight on how Singapore was like economically, politically and socio-culturally.

Nanqiao Jigong: The Extraordinary Story of Nanyang Drivers and Mechanics Who Returned to China During the Sino-Japanese War (8 sets of panels)

1939. The Sino-Japanese War was at a critical stage. Most of China’s port cities including Shanghai and Amoy had fallen into the hands of the invading Japanese forces. When Canton was captured in October 1938, China found its shipping routes almost completely cut off. China’s last hope was the treacherous 1,146-km Yunnan-Burma Road, which allowed it access to the outside world via Rangoon. However, as large numbers of experienced drivers and mechanics were required to keep this lifeline open, the Chinese government looked towards Nanyang (Southeast Asia) for help. Within days of the enlistment in Nanyang, some 2,300 volunteers came forward. Between February and August 1939, some 3,200 volunteers from various parts of Nanyang returned to China. One-third of them eventually died in the line of duty.

These volunteers displayed exemplary values: perseverance in the face of harsh conditions, courage and creativity in life-or-death situations and above all, a deep sense of rootedness. Although living and working in Nanyang where the threat of war was distant, they were determined to contribute directly to China’s resistance efforts, putting their own lives in danger to ensure war supplies reached the Chinese troops defending their homeland.

The National Archives of Singapore, in collaboration with the State Archives Administration of China and Yunnan Provincial Archives, jointly present the extraordinary story of the brave volunteer drivers and mechanics from Nanyang who responded patriotically to their motherland’s call for help.

The 2^nd Decade - Nation Building In Progress, 1975 - 1985 (18 sets of panels)
There was a time when postal codes consisted of only 4 digits and when the Singapore River was a scene of filth lined with shacks and roadside hawkers. There was also a time when people wondered how the MRT, the most popular mode of public transport today, could actually impact their lives and when farmers got paid for their crops when asked to relocate. Those were the years between 1975 and 1985, the second decade that follows the first 10 years of independence. It was a time of both opportunities and obstacles; a time for improvements and new challenges. 10 years since the birth of our nation in 1965, Singapore arrived at an enviable position after enjoying stabilising peace and rapid economic growth during its first decade. Much has been done to put in place policies, systems and infrastructures, to haul this new country from a time of uncertainty to a period of self-assured sovereignty. Yet fresh challenges abound for the then PM Lee Kuan Yew and his cabinet as Singapore braced herself for another decade of nation building. The challenges ahead, and the benefits to be reaped, in the ten years from 1975 onwards, present both obstacles and opportunities for an evolving Singapore, particularly as a young society. As with its precursor, ‘10 Years that Shaped a Nation’, ‘The 2^nd Decade - Nation Building In Progress, 1975 - 1985’ showcases the struggles, decisions, predicaments faced by Singapore in her journey to achieving what Singaporeans can enjoy today.



10 Years that Shaped a Nation, 1965-1975 (9 sets of panels)
On 9 August 1965, barely two years after a political merger with Malaysia in 1963, Singapore was suddenly thrust into independence and separated from the Federation. As a small country with no natural resources and facing unemployment, vulnerable security and far from satisfactory health conditions, the leaders of Singapore had to stand up to the challenges to build a viable nation. Our nation building history is very short but we have achieved much to be proud of. Let’s take time to look back at an important period of Singapore’s history – our first decade of independence. Learn about the major contributions of our founding generation of leaders and appreciate how they laid the foundation for Singapore as an independent city state. Many of the lessons learnt remain relevant today and in the future.

National Day Parades Over the Years: Through the Eyes of MICA Photographers (4 sets of panels)
Beaming participants waving flags and the ceremonial State Flag fly-past by the Air Force during National Day Parades have become synonymous with our National Day celebrations. See how Singapore celebrated her first birthday in 1966 and witness the transformation of the celebrations of our nation’s independence in this exhibition. Jointly presented by MICA and NAS, this exhibition showcases a selection of National Day Parades photographs taken by MICA Photo Unit from 1966 to 2005.

From Emporium to Singapore City: Mapping the Journey (8 sets of panels)
This is the first exhibition ever staged by NAS on the historical maps of Singapore produced after the founding of Singapore by the British. The exhibition presents an insightful and fascinating display of 135 years of Singapore’s history from 1819 to 1954 through maps. It traces the developments that took Singapore from a fishing village to a bustling British Emporium of the Far East and the achievement of “city” status in 1951.The maps, coupled with historical photographs and documents, also narrate the metamorphosis of Singapore’s landscapes and progress over those years.

Spice Frontier: Changing Boundaries, Evolving Uses (8 sets of panels)
The Spice Frontier exhibition covers the influence and impact of spice cultivation on our nation’s history. It traces the growth and decline of spice cultivation in 19th century Singapore and explores the types and uses of spices cultivated. In meeting the demands of spice cultivation, our forefathers had to overcome the challenges of converting primary forests to plantations and dangerous encounters with tigers. The exhibition also reveals how cultivation of spices affected the evolution of our local districts as evidenced by names of roads related to spices.

Reminiscences Of The Straits Settlements Through Postcards (9 sets of panels)
Dear Friend, did you know that it would have cost only a penny for you to send a postcard today part of the British Colony? In 1884, that is. Before the telephone, email, and video conferencing, postcards were the cheapest and also the most picturesque way to keep in touch with loved ones abroad. Today, these postcards are a window into an important era in Malaysia and Singapore’ history, highlighting some of the heritage and similarities that we share .

Family (10 sets of panels)
The family in Singapore and around the region is the focus of this exhibition. The subjects include family homes, family business, family’s changing structure, family at play.

Five-Footway Traders (6 sets of panels)
The term "five-footway" originated from the planning scheme by Sir Stamford Raffles. Under this scheme, all buildings were to have a covered walkway or corridor of about five-foot width in the front. This exhibition looks at the trades and activities that are carried out along the five-footway.

From the Picture Press: The SPH Photographs Collection, 1950 – 1965 (10 sets of panels)
This exhibition is taken from the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) archive of news photographs, offering a unique opportunity to journey back in time to experience, through these striking black-and-white images, a Singapore before its rapid modernisation and transformation to become one of Asia’s most affluent and technologically sophisticated city-states. Showcasing published and unpublished photographs from The Straits Times, The Sunday Times and the Singapore Free Press, this exhibition retells the everyday lives of ordinary people when Singapore struggled under the difficult conditions of post-war recovery. Divided into several sections, it features various facets of life in Singapore: of work and play, cultural and religious activities, changing landscapes, as well as dramatic events such as floods and elections, and more.

Guardian of Heritage (8 sets of panels)
This exhibition reproduces a selection of the archival records - text documents, maps, building plans, photographs etc - in the holdings of the National Archives of Singapore, in the hope that it will lead to a greater appreciation of our history and heritage as preserved and made available for public consultation by the National Archives of Singapore.

Helping Hands: Singapore Social Services - Past, Present, Future (10 sets of panels)
From the early missions to the multi-faceted self-help organisations of today, from unknown individuals to successful businessmen, Singapore has seen men and women from all walks of life dedicating time and energy for the betterment of society. This exhibition focuses on the people who have in some way devoted their lives for the humanitarian cause in Singapore.

Heritage In Photos 1950 to 2000 (5 sets of panels)
The exhibition features milestone events in Singapore’s history between 1950 to 2000.

Indian Rites And Rituals : From Cradle to Grave (5 sets of panels)
The term 'Indian' encompasses many linguistic and regional groups, each with its own customs, traditions and practices. There are the Punjabis, Sindhis, Tamils, Malayalees, Sri Lankans, Pakistanis and a host of others. In Singapore, with the majority of the Indian population being Tamils, this exhibition focuses on the practices of the Singapore Tamils from cradle to grave.

Kampong Days (10 sets of panels)
Do ice kacang balls, kaya toast, chaptek and cinema-on-wheels bring back nostalgic memories? "Kampong Days" brings you back to the good old days of simple living.

Nee Soon Exhibition (10 sets of panels)
The exhibition documents the development of the Nee Soon community since its days of the mid 19th century.

Singapore National Monuments : Religious Buildings (10 sets of panels)
This exhibition features the national monuments that dot our landscape.

Singapore National Monuments : Civic/Institutional and Commercial Buildings (10 sets of panels)
This exhibition features the national monuments that dot our landscape.

Singapore River (9 sets of panels)
Although not the Thames nor the Seine, our very own Singapore River once played a vital role in our history. The River was our lifeline, the economic and trading artery of Singapore. It was also the mart where the diverse migrant communities made their living. This exhibition documents the life and times of the Singapore River.

World War 2 (9 sets of panels)
Singapore was thought to be the British "Gibraltar of the East" before February 1942. This myth was shattered on 15 February 1942 when Singapore fell to the Japanese. This exhibition portrays the fall and what life was like in Singapore during the three years and eight months of Japanese rule.

Youth of Yesteryears (9 sets of panels)
The focus is on the Singapore youths of the 1950s to 1970s period. Their home life, school life, latest fads, music, sports and recreation are captured in the exhibition.

Colours Behind Barbed Wires: A Prisoner of War’s Story Through Haxworth’s Sketches (8 sets of panels)
Mr William Haxworth was working as the Chief Investigator of the War Risks Insurance Department of the Singapore Treasury when the war broke out. He was subsequently interned by the Japanese, first in Changi Prison and later transferred to Sime Road Internment Camp. He secretly drew over 300 small paintings and sketches that depicted the harsh, crowded and unhygienic living conditions in these POW camps. Faced with a shortage of paper and drawing materials, Haxworth creatively resorted to using whatever alternative materials he could lay his hands on to produce a variety of watercolour paintings and pencil and crayon sketches. With his keen artistic eye and daring sense of humour, his expressive portrayals of his fellow internees in various poses and from various angles undoubtedly entertained them to no end. Over time, these drawings captured vividly the rapid transformation of the internees from well-built men to gaunt figures of skin and bones by the time the war is ended. Therefore, from an archival point of view, these are more than just art, as they bear testimony to the consequences of an inadequate diet and other privations suffered during internment, and lay proof to the resilience and resourcefulness shown by the people in times of war and shortage. Seven drawings from this collection are currently being featured in the Virtual Collection of Masterpieces project, a collaborative effort of more than 50 museums from Europe and Asia to showcase and promote understanding of Asian masterpieces (http://masterpieces.asemus.museum). As a tribute to this spirit of creativity and adaptability, NAS in turn gave these wartime sketches new life and function by turning them into colourful window displays in the restored Old Ford Factory Exhibition Gallery which features the story of Singapore under Japanese Occupation, 1942-1945. More of Haxworth’s artworks can be viewed online through the online exhibition – “Colours Behind Barbed Wires: A Prisoner of War’s Story Through Haxworth’s Sketches” (www.s1942.org.sg). The Haxworth Collection was generously donated by Mrs Haxworth to NAS in 1986.

Living History: Tracing Our Customs and Traditions (14 sets of panels)
Racial and religious harmony are bedrock principles for Singapore’s multi-racial society. Appreciation and respect for one another’s cultures, customs and traditions contribute to the well-being and stability of our country. Together with compassion and a sense of responsibility for one another, this is the Heartware, the "glue" that will hold our nation together. This exhibition of the Chinese, Indian and Malay communities in Singapore is a celebration of our cultural diversity. It aims to promote a better understanding of our varied cultures that give Singapore its unique flavour.