Museums, Melaka

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The Museum of Architecture is yet another of the many museums along Jalan Kota, at the foot of St Paul's Hill in Bandar Hilir, Malacca. It exhibits many scale models of famous Malaysian architectural buildings as well as plans and photos. Quite interesting if you're into this kind of thing.

Open: 9am-6pm. Admission: Free.

This museum showcases artefacts related to Admiral Cheng Ho in the context of Malacca history, the early cultural exchange between the locals and the Chinese, a model treasure ship, navigational instruments, and even a teahouse, among others.

The Museum is located on what, according to the museum, is claimed to be the site of warehouses belonging to Admiral Cheng Ho - though the museum carefully states that more study needs to be carried out to substantiate the claim. Another claim linking Bukit China to Admiral Cheng Ho, on the account that the hill was called Sampo Hill is also in question, as there has not been any proof of Cheng Ho ever being at the hill.

Open: 9am-6pm. Admission: RM20.

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The Governor's Museum is housed in the Seri Melaka, the former official residence and office of the Dutch Governor of Malacca on St Paul's Hill. The building was used as the official residence of the Tuan Yang Terutama, which is the title of the governor, until September 1996. The museum showcases the personal belongings of the various governors of Malacca since independence, beginning with the first Governor of Malacca, Tun Leong Yew Koh. Outside is a Daimler car bought in 1974 for three governors until 1986.

Open: 9am-5.30pm daily. Admission: RM5.

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This museum lies half way up St Paul's Hill behind the Stadthuys. It exhibits the democratic history of Malacca over the centuries that was brought here by the Europeans. It also charts the future the government in the region but isn't all that interesting.

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The Museum of History and Ethnography is arguably the best museum in Malacca. It is located within the Stadthuys, at the foot of St Paul's Hill facing the Dutch Square. If you have time to see only one museum on your visit, this is the one you should not miss. It is in this museum that the history of Malacca is unfolded for you step by step, beginning with the establishment of Malacca, the Malacca Sultanate, the Portuguese, Dutch and British occupation, the Japanese occupation, and finally the years leading towards independence. It provides an interesting glimpse into the history of the various ethnic groups that make up the fabric of Malacca society, including the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Peranakan, Chitty and Eurasians. Various aspects of each culture is portrayed including wedding ceremonies, musical instruments, and so on.

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Built in 1990 and housed in a faithful recreation of the Flora de la Mar, a Portugese galleon that sank off the coast of Malacca, the Maritime Museum is another museum well worth a visit.

There are old maps, scale-model ships, weaponry and nautical-related accessories and relics.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:30

I loved the Muzium Seni Bina - the Architecture Museum of Malaysia. Located down in the Heritage area of Melaka there were not many people there on the day I was visiting.

Perhaps not knowing too much about the history of Malaysia was what made this museum so interesting for me. Also that the previous day I had visited the Little Malaysia Village and had seen so many styles of building. Put these two together and you have a nice architectural history of the place.

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From St Paul’s Hill, you can catch a glimpse of this unique Maritime Museum that is shaped like a Portuguese ship. The Flora De La Mar is a Portuguese ship that sank off the Coast of Malacca, but it was salvaged by the Malaccan Heritage association.