Once Upon a Tide: A Family-Friendly Exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore

Things to Do in Singapore with Kids (National Day Edition)

As part of my kindergartener’s school outing, we visited the exhibition ‚Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City’ at the National Museum of Singapore. Parents were invited to join, and I was so glad to come along. My child was excited that I did, and I could tell that sharing the experience made it more special for her.

Entry into the 'Once Upon a Tide' Exhibition. Photo: National Museum of Singapore

The outing began with ‚Get Curious! Building Our Singapore‘, a self-guided interactive installation located just outside the main exhibition. It introduced key themes of migration and belonging in a format designed for young children. Across three stops, the installation encouraged children to imagine early migrant journeys, trace the origins of Singapore’s diverse communities on a world map, and write postcards of appreciation to migrant workers using photographs taken by the workers themselves.

The installation was simple but thoughtful, and it offered a good way to start the day’s visit, inviting children to consider Singapore’s history as something shaped by movement, contribution, and care.

Main Exhibition – Once Upon a Tide

From there, we moved into the main gallery. ‘Once Upon a Tide‘ is part of the museum’s SG60 (60th anniversary of Singapore’s independence) programming and traces more than 700 years of Singapore’s transformation from a trading post to a global city. It is designed to be both accessible and layered, offering multiple entry points for children and adults.

The exhibition is structured into five thematic zones:

• Always on the Map – Early references to Singapore’s strategic position

• The River Road – Daily life and trade along the Singapore River

• Expanding Horizons – Land reclamation and the challenge of limited space

• Flows of People – Migrant histories and contributions across generations

• Making Waves – Singaporeans who have made an impact on the global stage

Each zone blends visuals, artefacts, and multimedia features. Children are not expected to move through in silence. Instead, they are invited to interact. The Sampan Challenge, a digital rowing game, was a clear highlight for many. Other features include projection walls, video clips, map sliders, and interactive buttons, which break up the more text-heavy displays and support hands-on learning.

While younger children will likely engage most with the sensory and digital elements, older children may begin to grasp the wider narrative about development, identity, and change. The exhibition does not rush its story. Instead, it allows families to move through the space at their own rhythm – pausing to watch, touch, read, or reflect.

Optional Family Trail – A Navigator’s Adventure

For those visiting with older children from 9 years old, the museum offers a downloadable activity guide called ‘A Navigator’s Adventure‘. The trail follows the five zones and includes drawing prompts, observation tasks, and short reflections. It adds structure for primary school-aged children and encourages them to look more closely at the exhibits.

📥 Download the trail guide

Family-Friendly Exhibition to Explore Singapore’s History

Once Upon a Tide and Get Curious! Building Our Singapore offer families a layered and accessible experience, one that supports learning through interaction and reflection. The exhibitions are well-curated, not overly didactic, and flexible enough to suit a variety of ages and attention spans.

For families looking to mark Singapore’s National Day with something more grounded than a parade or picnic, this museum visit offers a way to engage meaningfully with the country’s past, and to see it through your child’s eyes.

Happy 60th National Day, Singapore!

Plan Your Visit

Location

National Museum of Singapore , 93 Stamford Road, Level 1, Singapore 178897

Exhibition period

24 May 2024 to 9 October 2026

Opening hours

Daily from 10am to 7pm (last admission at 6.30pm)

Admission

– Free for Singapore Citizens and PRs

– $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors

– Free for children under 6

🔗 More exhibition information