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Photo: Terence Ong, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Housed in the historic Empress Place Building, this is one of Singapore's newest, largest and best-presented museums. As the name hints, all of Asia is covered in the scope, although naturally there is an emphasis on the cultures near and in Singapore. Also hosts visiting exhibitions.
The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) is an institution which forms a part of the four museums in Singapore, the other three being the Peranakan Museum, the National Museum of Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum.
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A statue of Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore, is built on the (supposed) exact spot where he first landed. Second only to the Merlion as most popular place in Singapore to take a picture of yourself, and having the skyscrapers and the shop houses of Boat Quay in the background helps to explain why! The statue here is a replica; the original can be found in front of the Victoria Theatre.
Built by the British in the 19th century, this was Singapore's premier arts centre until the Esplanade came and stole the limelight. It still hosts various smaller events that can't fit in (or afford) the Esplanade. History buffs may also want to do a detour: the Raffles statue in front dates to 1887, and the People's Action Party was founded here in 1954, as commemorated with a plaque showing a very young-looking Lee Kuan Yew.
Singapore's oldest bridge and its only suspension bridge, constructed in 1869, now a pedestrian walkway across the mouth of the Singapore River. Note the original sign forbidding cattle to cross.
A pagoda commemorating Lim Bo Seng, a World War II hero. Lim was part of Force 136, a British intelligence operation that was established to aid indigenous resistance movements in Japanese-occupied territory. After being arrested by the Japanese Kempeitai (secret police), Lim refused to divulge any information about his comrades despite being tortured by the Japanese, and died in prison in 1944 at the age of 35.
National Art Gallery
The Old Supreme Court Building was built in the classical style, featuring Corinthian columns and an allegory of justice set below the main dome. The current Supreme Court Building is right behind and its "spaceship" structure marks quite a contrast between the old and the new. While the building itself is worth a visit, it now also houses part of the National Art Gallery.
Opened in 2015 in the former City Hall and Supreme Court buildings, it oversees the world’s largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian art, consisting of over 8,000 artworks. National Gallery Singapore aims to provide an understanding and appreciation of art and culture through a variety of media, focusing on Singapore's culture and heritage and its relationship with other Southeast Asian cultures, Asia, and the world.