When you step into the Museum of U & Me, you’re not just entering a pop-up exhibition, you’re stepping into a time machine made of everyday objects, memories, and stories that have quietly shaped Singapore over the past 60 years.
From a humble Setron television made in Singapore in the 1970s, to a plaque given to the very first Singapore Airlines passenger, to the actual measurements of Princess Diana taken by local designer Benny Ong; each artefact whispers of a past moment, an everyday life, or a shared dream that still echoes today.
Running from 9 October to 14 December on the Lawn of the National Museum of Singapore, this SG60 pop-up museum is housed within three industrial containers. But inside? It’s like opening up chapters of Singapore’s story that's curated not only from the National Collection, but also from items loaned and contributed by everyday Singaporeans.
Walking Through Time: The Five Thematic Journeys
The museum invites us on a journey through five different eras and themes, each one a window into the lives of those who came before us and, in many ways, into our own lives too.
3D-printed replicas of the legendary Singapore Stone
From Shores to Singapore
The journey begins before independence, where stories of arrivals, roots, and resilience come alive. See 3D-printed replicas of the legendary Singapore Stone and a 1919 Centenary medal of Raffles’ landing, like objects that remind us how languages, traditions, and dreams mingled and grew into today’s multicultural Singapore.
Hands That Built a Nation
Here, we step into the world of work and labour that forms the rhythm that powered Singapore’s transformation. From the Fairchild Employee Handbook to Benny Ong’s personal story of measuring Princess Diana, this section honours the hands and hearts that built our nation’s economy.
Kitchen Conversations
Every Singaporean knows the kitchen is where stories simmer. Hawker licences, tiffin carriers, and an old-school tombok (mortar and pestle) tell tales of how food became our identity, our pride, and our way of belonging. Meals weren’t just about eating; they were about family, community, and memory.
Time-off!
Leisure has its own kind of magic. Here you’ll find artifacts like the Atari 2600, Singapore Girl perfume, and toys from our childhood. They remind us of laughter-filled afternoons, new trends, and music that shaped generations with everyday joys that turned into shared cultural memories.
The Shape of Home
The final stop feels like walking into a living room of the past. A Rediffusion radio, a 1970s TV, and an HDB home ownership poster trace how Singaporeans built not just houses, but homes filled with pride and shared aspirations. This is where personal comfort meets national progress - our collective heartbeat.
More Than Just Artefacts
The Museum of U & Me doesn’t just show you history; it lets you touch, feel, and even play with it. There are interactive digital displays, 3D-printed objects, and even a 1970s TV screening a rare HDB film from 1976.
Gamers and collectors will love the digital challenge tucked into the exhibition, a spot hidden objects game in archival photos to win collectible artifact cards (20 to collect, with five holofoil editions). It’s a cheeky way to make heritage fun and hands-on for all ages.
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| Sharing session with artifect lenders: Professor Bernard Tan, owner of Singapore Symphony Orchestra memorabilia Dr Ong Pang Yeow, owner of 'The first Passenger to Fly Singapore Airlines' plaque Mr David Chan, owner of racing car’s steering wheel Mr C. Kunalan, owner Sportsman of the Year Watch |
And if you’ve been following Mediacorp’s On The Red Dot: Museum of U & Me docuseries, this pop-up is where the stories step off the screen. You’ll even see featured artifacts like Mr C. Kunalan’s Sportsman of the Year watch in real life.
According to NHB, while 88% of Singaporeans believe it’s important to build a National Collection, only half know we actually have one. That’s what makes this pop-up so powerful! It’s not just about rare objects or famous milestones, but about rediscovering that our everyday lives are history in the making.
“Our history and heritage are all around us—in the food we share, the music we love, and the memories we keep. The story of Singapore is not written by colossal monuments alone, but by the everyday things we hold, make, collect, and treasure.” --- John Tung, Curator
✨ If you’ve ever wanted to walk through Singapore’s story in the most personal, human way, this is your chance. Step inside, and who knows, you might just see your own family’s history reflected back at you.
Museum of U & Me
📅 9 October – 14 December 2025
🕙 10am – 7pm daily
📍 National Museum of Singapore Lawn
💵 Admission: Free
For more info: go.gov.sg/museumofuandme
