Melaka is filled with museums and rich in history, culture and heritage. It boasts of beautiful colonial buildings and has antiquities to show off to the world. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Melaka is obliged to preserve its cultural and historical heritage.
There is no doubt that every city in Malaysia has more than one museum. However, Melaka seems to be filled with museums. Melaka is rich in history, culture and heritage. It boasts of beautiful colonial buildings and has antiquities to show off to the world. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Melaka is obliged to preserve its cultural and historical heritage. So, what other better way than setting up museums in heritage colonial buildings and exhibiting them to the world? By doing so, Melaka does not only create awareness of its rich history but also ensures that the buildings are properly maintained.
Flor de La Mar
Flor de La Mar, meaning Flower of the Sea was one of the Portuguese fleet in the Indian Ocean under the command of Alfonso de Albuquerque, who conquered Melaka in 1511. The ship was built in 1502 and was the largest vessel of its kind at that time. With a length of 120 feet and height of 110 feet, it weighed 400 tonnes. The vessel was not only used for trade but also for battle as Flor de La Mar was armed with 40 cannons, distributed over its three decks. The Flor de La Mar was carrying the loot from Melaka when it sank off the coast of north Sumatera sometime towards the end of 1511.
The Flor de La Mar in Melaka today is a replica of the vessel. It is a maritime museum that aims to highlight Melaka’s importance as a regional trade centre in the early days. The museum exhibits artefacts and documents from the Melaka Sultanate, the Portuguese, Dutch and British administration eras as well as model ships.
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Islamic Museum
The Islamic Museum is housed in an old colonial building in Bandar Hilir. It is believed that the building was constructed in the 1850s. The exterior of the building is painted red, just like the buildings in the Red Square.
The building features full length windows on the upper floor and it used to stand on the shoreline but has been pushed back further inland because of land reclamation.
Prior to becoming a museum, the building was occupied by the Islamic Council of Melaka.
As its name suggests, the museum exhibits religious texts and documents, a collection of keris bearing inscriptions from the Holy Quran, paintings of mosques, wood carvings and books on Islam. In a nutshell, the museum narrates the story on the introduction of Islam to Melaka and how it spread across the region.
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Stamp Museum
The Stamp Museum in Melaka is housed in a Dutch-era house. It is one of the oldest houses in Melaka, built around the same time as the Stadhuys. However, its foundations are believed to be earlier during Portuguese Melaka.
The house was converted into the Melaka State Museum in 1954 until it shifted to the Stadhuys in 1982. The building was used for various purposes until 2007 when it was turned into the Stamp Museum.
As its name suggests, the museum exhibits stamps, ranging from the earliest known letter from Melaka to modern Malaysian stamps. The stamps used during the Japanese occupation, North Borneo and Straits Settlement can be found in this museum. There are also postman uniforms through the decades and post boxes on display.
In addition to it being a museum today, the building is believed to be haunted by a nun who lived in the convent next door. She was bricked-up alive in the outbuilding in the garden behind the house as a punishment for her involvement with a soldier.
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UMNO Museum
UMNO stands for the United Malays National Organisation, which is the one of the prominent political party in Malaysia. Located in Bandar Hilir, this museum tells the story of the party. As in the case of the buildings in the area, its exterior is also painted red.
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Malaysia Architecture Museum
The Malaysia Architecture Museum is housed in an 18th century Dutch heritage building. The building was used as a residence and administration centre for Dutch officials during the Dutch colonial rule.
When the British ruled Melaka, they turned it into an administrative office. When the Federation of Malaya attained independence in 1957, the building was occupied by the Melaka Water Board, which continued to occupy the building after the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
In 1999, the building was restored and in 2004, it was converted into a museum. It would be a place of interest to architects and builders as the museum showcases the history of architecture in the country from the early beginnings till today. Visitors to the museum will learn about the infusion of Indian, Chinese, Arab and European influences that helped to create Malaysia’s distinctive designs and styles.
The exhibits in this museum include multi-media, graphics, 3-D wooden models that provide information on some of Malaysia’s most recognisable buildings such as the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Kapitan Keling Mosque in Penang, Teluk Intan leaning clock tower, typical Malay houses and longhouses in Sabah and Sarawak.
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Transportation Museum
The Transportation Museum is located in the Coronation Park or Taman Bunga Merdeka. The park faces the row of museums in Melaka.
The Transportation Museum was established in collaboration with the Malayan Railway, the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the West Malaysia Department of Civil Aviation.
This museum is unique because it is located outdoors. The exhibits include the ‘Lang Rajawali’, which was the first aircraft acquired by the Royal Malayan Airforce in 1962; Sungai Lukut 21111, which a diesel locomotive built in Japan in 1965 and an accompanying railway carriage; a vintage yellow fire engine and a replica bullock cart.
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Melaka Art Gallery
The Melaka Art Gallery or Balai Seni Lukis occupies the upper floor of a co-shared building with the Malaysia Youth Museum. It is an art gallery that was established in 1958 and has been opened to the public until now except for 2006 when it underwent renovation and upgrading works.
The gallery comprises a permanent section with around 150 paintings and 30 sculptures by famous Malaysian and foreign artists as well as an exhibition section for other displays such as films and calligraphy.
