Museums
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important place in the history of Malaysia, there are a lot of museums in Melaka, more than 20 in all. Many of the museums are operated by the government owned Melaka Museum Corporation, known as PERZIM. A number of museums are probably only of interest to Malays, but there are still many places to see.
You're unlikely to want to take in all of these places. The Maritime Museum, with its full-size replica of a Portuguese galleon, is probably one of the most popular. I would also highly recommend the Cheng Ho Museum and the Baba Nyonya Heritage House. If you're still in the mood, then take in the Malaysian History and Ethnography Museum and the Sultanate Palace.
Most of the museums charge only a modest fee of 1 to 3 Ringgit ( to ) to enter, and some are free, so museum hopping in Melaka is not very costly.
- Architecture Museum
- The Architecture Museum aims to interpret Malaysian architectural forms, from traditional indigenous forms through the colonial influences.
- Melaka Art Gallery
- The Art Gallery displays works by local artist, both Melakan and from around Malaysia. A large area is devoted to rotating exhibits.
- Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum
- The museum is housed in a classic nineteenth century Chinese shophouse, restored to the state it was in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century.
- Cheng Ho Cultural Museum
- The Ming dynasty admiral Cheng Ho (or Zheng He) figures prominently in the history of Melaka. He visited the city-state on at least five of his seven great voyages, and set up his own warehouse / depot in the area.
- Democratic Government Museum
- The original home to the Melaka State Legislative Assembly now houses a museum documenting Malaysia's road to democracy.
- Governors Mansion
- The former residence of the state governors is now a museum highlighting the importance of the state governors.
- History & Ethnography Museum
- Housed in the Stadthuys, this museum recounts the history of Melaka, from its founding by an exiled Indonesian Prince to independence.
- Islamic Museum
- A museum recounting the history of Islam in Melaka, from it's introduction soon after the city-state's founding to the present day.
- Literature Museum
- Contains displays on the written history of Malaysia, as well as profiles of many important contemporary Malaysian writers.
- Malay & Islamic World Museum
- Closed at last check.
- Maritime Museum
- Definitely the 'star' of Melaka's museums, this full size replica of a Portuguese ship definitely gets your attention.
- People's Museum
- The People's Museum may well be the quirkiest of Melaka's many museums. The building also houses the Museum of Enduring Beauty and the Kite Gallery.
- Proclamation of Independence Museum
- The museum houses mementos from the struggle for independence, which includes a few armored vehicles.
- Stamp Museum
- For stamp collectors, this is the place to be.
- Sultanate Palace Museum
- The Sultanate Palace Museum is a replica of the fifteenth century palace of the Sultans who ruled Melaka, now used as the Malaysian Cultural Museum.
- UMNO Museum
- A museum dedicated to the movement that helped Malaysia attain independence, and which became a political part.
- Malaysian Youth Museum
- The Malaysian Youth Museum aims to document the contribution of Malaysia's young people to the country.
In this section
Photos of the Melaka Cheng Ho Cultural Museum. Click on any of the thumbnails to see the full size image. Mock-up of ship's hold The Tea Shoppe Cheng Ho becomes a eunuch (OUCH!) The Ming dynasty admiral Cheng Ho (or Zheng He) figures prominently in the history of Melaka. He visited the city-state on at least five of his seven great voyages, and set up his own warehouse / depot in the area.
The Malaysian Architecture Museum in Melaka The Architecture Museum aims to interpret Malaysian architectural forms, from traditional indigenous forms through the colonial influences. The museum is housed in the building that was originally the Dutch Governor's mansion, constructed in the eighteenth century.
The displays consist of a lot of models and examples, which makes it easy for even those with just a casual interest in the subject to understand.
The Melaka Art Gallery The Melaka Art Gallery is in the same building as the Malaysian Youth Museum. The Youth Museum is on the first (ground) floor while the art gallery is on the second (first) floor.
The Art Gallery displays works by local artist, both Melakan and from around Malaysia. A large area is devoted to rotating exhibits.
The Melaka Art Gallery is open every day from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm.
Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum The Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum is a private museum in the Chinatown area of Melaka. The museum is housed in a classic nineteenth century Chinese shophouse, restored to the state it was in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. Tours of the house are guided, so you get lots of information about every little detail of the lives of the old Straits Chinese.
The museum takes its name from “Baba”, the word for males, usually from China, and “Nyonya”, the word for women, usually local natives.
The Democratic Government Museum in Melaka The Democratic Government Museum is housed in one of the newest buildings on St Paul's Hill. The building was built behind the Stadthuys in the early 1960s to house the Melaka state legislative Assembly. The building now houses a museum documenting Malaysia's road to democracy.
The museum is open daily from 9:00 to 5:30. Admission is included in the RM 5.00 fee for the History and Ethnography Museum.
The old Dutch Governor's Mansion The Governor's Mansion was used by the governors from Dutch times in the seventeenth century up through post-colonial times. It was only vacated as the official residence of the Melaka State Governor in 1996. The building was then turned into a museum documenting the important role played by the various governors of Melaka, both colonial and Malaysian.
Among the displays are portraits, costumes and other regalia of office.
Photos of the History and Ethnology Museum. Click on any of the thumbnails to see the full size image. Entrance Hall Cheng Ho Statue Stadthuys The History & Ethnography Museum is housed in the old Dutch Stadthuys on Melaka's town square. The museum displays and recounts the history of Melaka, from its founding by a Sumatran prince through the colonial area and independence. There are a number of relics showing the rich multi-cultural tradition of the city-state, such as Chinese blue-and-white ceramics with Arabic decorations.
Proclamation of Independence Museum in Melaka The Proclamation of Independence Museum is housed in the elegant old building that was built for the Melaka Club. The building was built in 1912 by the British and used to have a large field in front of it, suitable for polo or cricket. The field is now the site of the Mega Mall.
It was here, somewhat paradoxically, that Malaysian Independence was proclaimed in 1956.
Photos of the Islamic Museum in Melaka. Click on any of the thumbnails to see the full size image. Museum Exterior Exhibit Hall Front second floor veranda The Melaka Islamic Museum is housed in an elegant old building that formerly housed the Melaka Islamic Council. The museum chronicles the development of Islam in Melaka from its introduction not long after the city-state's founding in the fifteenth century to the present day.
The Malay & Islamic World Museum in Melaka The Malay & Islamic World Museum was not open at last check in July 2010, and is not currently listed in the Melaka Museum Corporation's web site, so its status is unknown.
The museum is located in Bastion House, which was built in 1910 by the British rubber company Dunlop. They used the building until 1986. See the St Paul's Hill page for location information.
The Malaysia Literature Museum in Melaka The Literature Museum is located behind the Stadthuys, roughly between it and the Governor's Mansion. If you visit the Museum of History and Ethnology in the Stadthuys, you can exit via the rear and visit the Literature Museum. Inside the quaint colonial style building you'll find displays on the written history of Malaysia, as well as profiles of many important contemporary Malaysian writers.
Photos of the Melaka Maritime Museum. Click on any of the thumbnails to see the full size image. Sri Terengganu Warship Flor De La Mar Replica Exhibits in the Navy Museum The Maritime Museum has to be the star of Melaka's many museums. The giant replica of the Portuguese Galleon Flor De La Mar is certainly an eye-catcher. The huge wooden ship was built in the early 1990s and is patterned on the Portuguese galleons that took control of Melaka in the early sixteenth century.
The People's Museum in Melaka The People's Museum may well be the quirkiest of Melaka's many museums. It's charter is to document the economic and social progress of Malaysia since independence. It accomplishes that with artworks and mementos that focus on the people.
The building also houses the oddly named “Museum of Enduring Beauty”. According to their official blurb, the “permanent exhibition in this museum encapsulates records and history of beauty manifested by men from various cultures and beliefs.
Stamp Museum in Melaka The stamp museum is exactly what it sounds like. You'll see stamps of historical and artistic interest.
The Stamp Museum is open every day from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. Admission is RM 1.00. See the St Paul's Hill page for location information.
Photos of the Sultanate Palace Museum. Click on any of the thumbnails to see the full size image. Audience Hall Palace Exterior Palace Gardens The Sultanate Palace Museum is a replica of the fifteenth century palace of the Sultans who ruled Melaka, based on court records of the time. The original palace stood on the other side of St Paul's Hill in the area where the Town Square is today, and was torn down by the Portuguese when they took over Melaka.
The UMNO Museum in MelakaYouth Museum
The Malaysian Youth Museum in Melaka Housed in the old general post office on Melaka's old town square, the Malaysian Youth Museum aims to document the contribution of Malaysia's young people to the country. Inside you'll find photographs of the leaders of the various youth movements, as well as samples of uniforms, trophies, etc.
The Malaysian Youth Museum is open every day from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. Admission is RM 1.
