Uncover 700 Years of Singapore’s History at the National Museum’s Once Upon a Tide Exhibition

Venue: The National Museum of Singapore
Date: 24 May 2025 – October 2026
Admission: Free with ticketed programmes for Singaporeans and PR | Tickets range from $18 (Concession) to $24 (Tourists and non PR)

As Singapore celebrates 60 years of independence, you’re invited to embark on a journey through time at the National Museum of Singapore. If you’ve ever wondered how this island nation grew from a bustling 14th-century port to the global powerhouse, this is your chance to experience it all at Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City — a must-visit exhibition that opens on 24 May 2025.

Explore Over 700 Years of Singapore’s Maritime History in 5 Zones

From ancient sea routes to the iconic Singapore River, you’ll trace the powerful currents that shaped the nation’s history. The immersive showcase features over 350 fascinating artefacts, digital installations, and interactive zones that transport you across five captivating sections — from early trade hubs to today’s international achievements.

The journey begins with the first section, Always on the Map to witness how Singapore was already a prominent port long before colonial times. This section features key artefacts that showcase Singapore’s strategic position at the crossroads of global flows, and its status as one of the key port settlements in the Malay world and Chinese trade network. You can engage in digital Find Your Singapore experience, where you can search for Singapore across different historical maps.

Then, test your reflexes in the Sampan Challenge at The River Road, where you can sail through your way down the historical Singapore River and discover a range of artefacts highlighting the river’s vibrant past. For some added fun, you can take on the Sampan Challenge and “row across” the Singapore River, skillfully navigating past other vessels and battling the elements to safely deliver the passengers to their destination.

Don’t miss Expanding Horizons, where a dynamic slider map shows you how Singapore reclaimed land through the ages. This section features artefacts that reflect these efforts, including a letter from Sir Stamford Raffles to the town planning committee and a panoramic painting of Singapore’s skyline in 1976. 

This exhibition doesn’t just cover places — it celebrates people. In Flows of People, you’ll hear personal stories from Singapore’s early settlers to modern workers, told through intimate audio and visual testimonials. Take a moment to appreciate the individuals who helped build our society, from construction crews to caregivers. Photographic artefacts and personal mementos offer insight into the various tools of the trades, and a slice of the diversity of those who helped build the nation.

End your experience on a high note at Making Waves, where you’ll discover inspiring stories of Singaporeans making a mark on the global stage. From athletes like Joseph Schooling to cultural icons like filmmaker Eric Khoo and even the rise of Singlish in the Oxford Dictionary, this section shines a spotlight on what makes us uniquely Singaporean.

Don’t forget to try the interactive Singlish quiz to test your knowledge of tye Singaporean language that has become a cultural marker of pride.

Create Your Vision for the Future

As you journey through the exhibition, you’ll receive an RFID wristband to answer RFID-based personalised experience about Singapore’s identity and your hopes for its future. At the end, you’ll be assigned an avatar that represents your unique vision. As each avatar reflects one’s individual values, priorities, and aspirations for Singapore’s future, they contribute to a larger cityscape visual that represents the collective vision of Singapore’s tomorrow, co-created by all who participate.

A Fun and Accessible Experience for Young Visitors

Younger audiences can enjoy the Once Upon a Tide exhibition through 11 Waves of Wonder captions designed just for families. Co-created with educators from My First Skool, each caption includes bite-sized facts and fun missions to spark curiosity in children. For preschoolers and students with special needs, the Programmes Cart offers hands-on, age-appropriate activities that make learning more engaging. Additional learning resources will also be rolled out for student groups of different levels.

Bring the Kids Along: Children’s Season Returns with Get Curious!

Happening alongside Once Upon a Tide, Children’s Season 2025 invites your family to continue the journey of discovery with Get Curious! Building Our Singapore. This edition focuses on the people who helped shape Singapore, with hands-on installations and the heartwarming Our Mama Shop showcase — a collaboration between preschoolers and senior citizens that celebrates shared identity and local culture.

Happening from 24 May to 29 June 2025, kids can interact with a world map of migrant origins, dress up in key migrant roles, and even write thank-you cards to today’s migrant workers. With fun-filled activities like The River Hunt, storytelling sessions, film screenings, and character meet-and-greets, your little ones will learn more about Singapore’s history in an engaging and meaningful way.

For more information, please visit https://go.gov.sg/onceuponatide, Children’s Season https://go.gov.sg/nms-cs2025 or the National Museum’s Facebook and Instagram pages.