Page 142 - The Guide To Sarawak

140 PLACES OF SPECIAL INTEREST
SARAWAK MUSEUM
Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg 93566 Kuching
T (082) 244 232
F (082) 246 680
E webmaster@museum.sarawak.
gov.my
w www.museum.sarawak.gov.my
IN BRIEF
The Sarawak Museum was established in 1886 by the 2nd Rajah, Sir Charles Brooke, to collect, preserve and exhibit the historical, cultural and natural heritage of Sarawak - and to consolidate the unity of the various ethnic groups. It also encourages research on archaeology, ethnology, zoology and conservation and publishes the highly regarded Sarawak Museum Journal.
OPENING HOURS
It is open Monday-Friday, 9am~4.45pm & Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays, 10am~4pm
Closed: 1st day of main Public Holidays, Governor’s Birthday, Labour Day & Malaysia Day
LOCATION / ROUTE
Located on the west side of Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg just south of the Merdeka Palace Hotel, adjacent to Padang Merdeka. The museum is set in its own extensive gardens, which also include the Warrior’s Memorial and a small public aquarium.
HOW TO GET THERE
All city buses stop nearby. The Museum is also within easy walking distance of city centre hotels.
The Main Building (or Old Wing) of the Sarawak Museum is one of Kuching’s best- known landmarks. First opened in 1891, it houses an exceptional ethnographic collec- tion as well as informative natural history displays.
MAIN FEATURES
Housed in a number of heritage buildings centered around the Old Wing (1891), the Museum currently holds over 22,500 artefacts relating to archaeology, ethnology, natural history, botany and art. There are also 668 audio items, 1,147 cassettes and over 200 videotapes and DVDs. Its current facilities include
a lecture/seminar room capable of accommodating 120 people, a meeting room
for 20 people, and various other facilities for research and other academic pursuits. There are two libraries (reference and archival),
a photographic studio, a lobby area for temporary exhibitions, an information counter, a café and a souvenir/handicrafts shop.
A visit to the Museum begins with the original building, whose facade resembles a Normandy Town Hall of its era. Starting on the ground floor, the Mammal,
Central Post Office
St. Thomas Cathedral
Merdeka Palace
SARAWAK RIVER
New Wing
Old Wing
Main Bazaar
Jalan Masjid
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Padang Merdeka
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Jalan McDougal
Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg
Jalan P. Ramlee