Sarawak Museum
Originally built in 1891 to house and display arts and
crafts of the indigenous people of Borneo, the Sarawak Museum has gained a reputation for
having the single most comprehensive collection of Borneon artefacts to be found anywhere.
After extensive extensions, the Sarawak Museum now straddles both sides of Jalan Tun Abang
Haji Openg, with both buildings connected by an overhead pedestrian bridge. The original
1891 building was designed in style of a Normandy town-house and was extended to its
present structure in 1911. The new wing, just across the road, was built in the 1970s and
has a reconstruction of life in the prehistoric Niah Caves.
Sarawak Islamic Museum
The Sarawak Islamic Museum occupies the Maderasah, a
concrete and brick building recognised as the only one of its kind in the state. Built in
1930 along Jalan P. Ramlee, it was originally meant as a college for higher Malay Studies.
Today it is the first Islamic Museum to be established in South East Asia. It has seven
galleries exhibiting Islamic artefacts from around the region and separate fascinating
collections of old coins, weapons, costumes, pottery, textiles and jewellery from the
Islamic world. This museum is located behind the new wing of the Sarawak Museum across the
road.
Chinese History Museum
Located at the Waterfront, this museum is devoted to the
Chinese community of Sarawak. It exhibits the routes of early trading, migration from
various provinces of China, early pioneers, trading formation, political history and
Chinese associations.
Cat Museum
The Cat Museum at the Kuching North City Council is the
world's first museum devoted to cats. Here you can find a large range of exhibits of cats
including pictures, books, souvenirs and etc.
