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10 years on: LKCNHM returns to its roots with ‘Day of Curiosity’

10 years on: LKCNHM returns to its roots with ‘Day of Curiosity’

On 18 May 2025, the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) celebrated International Museum Day with a special open house—’Day of Curiosity’—marking a decade of bringing natural history to life. More than ten years ago, a similar open house at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research—also held on International Museum Day—sparked public interest and the idea for a dedicated natural history museum in Singapore. That vision became reality with the founding of LKCNHM on 18 April 2015, which now returns to its roots by once again opening its doors to curious minds of all ages. 

 

A visitor checking out an exhibit in our Heritage Gallery.

 

The day was packed with engaging and immersive experiences. Visitors joined us for a special 10th anniversary edition of our volunteer-led guided gallery tours in English and Mandarin, where they were invited to discover the Museum’s incredible journey over the past decade—from groundbreaking research to conservation efforts—and learn more about the milestones that have shaped its story. 

 

Mr Miguel Loh, one of the Museum’s volunteer guides, explaining more about our fungi specimens on display.

 

Visitors also had the rare opportunity to venture beyond our public galleries through our exclusive collection tours! Stepping into the Zoological Reference Collection—home to over a million specimens, some dating back to the 1840s! Participants got a first-hand look at specimens collected from past biodiversity expeditions and surveys, ranging from huge insects and delicate bird skins to deep-sea crustaceans. During this behind-the-scenes experience, our guides offered insights into how our Museum curators and scientific officers study and preserve Southeast Asia’s biodiversity! 

 

Ms Lim Jia Xuan, one of the Museum’s Education Officers, sharing about the importance of collecting insect specimens from past biodiversity expeditions and surveys like the RIMBA-Sarawak expeditions and the Mandai Insect Survey.
Visitors, both young and old, learning about the Museum’s preservation process of crustacean specimens in our wet collections.

 

The Museum’s inflatable planetarium also offered an unforgettable immersive journey which surrounded participants with a 360-degree visual experience that brought science to life! They also learnt about the crucial role Singapore’s natural history museum plays in research, education, and conservation. 

 

A sneak peek into the inside of our inflatable planetarium!

 

Throughout the day, guests could take part in interactive fringe activities like scavenger hunts and wire buzz games where they stood a chance to win an exclusive Museum keychain! 

 

Our young guests staying focused as they tried their hand at our wire buzz game!

 

On top of the permanent gallery exhibitions, guests could also check out our newest 10th anniversary exhibition, ‘A Decade of Discovery’, which tells the Museum’s story over the past ten years.

  

Mr Lee Kiew Won, one of the Museum’s volunteer guides, sharing more about the Museum’s latest book, ‘Archipelago of Islands: Natural and Other Histories of Singapore’ using the rock specimens on display in our new exhibition, ‘A Decade of Discovery’!

 

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate International Museum Day with us! Whether you’re a first-time or ardent supporter of the Museum, your presence made our celebration fuller! Thank you for being a part of our story!