Sarawak Museum
| Muzium Negeri Sarawak | |
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| Established | 1888 |
|---|---|
| Location | Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia |
| Coordinates | 1°33′17″N 110°20′37″E / 1.55472°N 110.34361°ECoordinates: 1°33′17″N 110°20′37″E / 1.55472°N 110.34361°E |
| Type | Ethnology museum |
| Founder | Charles Brooke |
| Owner | Sarawak state government |
| Website | www |
The Sarawak State Museum (Malay: Muzium Negeri Sarawak) is the oldest museum in Borneo. It was founded in 1888 and opened in 1891 in a purpose-built building in Kuching, Sarawak. Naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace encouraged Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah of Sarawak, to establish the museum.
The Sarawak Museum was built in 1891 and was extended to its present form in 1911. The building was built to permanently house and display local indigenous arts and crafts, and collections of local animals. Its founding was encouraged by the prominent British naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace, who was then collecting specimens in the state.
The museum was run by military officers during the two world wars. In the Great War, British officers were assigned to it. During the Japanese Occupation of World War II, the museum was directed by a Japanese officer, who was sympathetic to its goals. He protected it and the museum suffered very little damage or looting.
The historic building has been renovated. It is used to exhibit and interpret collections on the natural history of Sarawak. Shell Oil sponsored an exhibit on the petroleum industry, which has been important to Borneo. In addition, it displays archaeological artefacts and reconstructions of examples of traditional life of the indigenous peoples, and of their arts and crafts. It has the most comprehensive archaeological, natural history, and ethnographic collections on Borneo.
The building has undergone several renovations and alterations since its construction. It is rectangular, 44’ × 160’ with walls and pillars of bricks, and roof of belian and concrete. The Sarawak Gazette referred to it being in the Queen Anne style. It is likely that Rajah Charles saw a picture of the Adelaide Children's Hospital and directed his staff to produce a Museum to look like it. The museum is very similar but without the central spire. The galleries are lighted by dormer windows on the roof, making wall space available for exhibit displays and collections.
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Wikipedia