Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village
The Sabah State Museum is located at Jalan Kebajikan off Jalan penampang, opposite the Secretariat building. The building consists of not only the museum but also the Science and Education Centre, Ethno Botanical Garden, Sabah Art Gallery, Museum of Islamic Civilization and the Heritage Village. It is a unique museum and has its own modern complex.
The Museum aims to collect, preserve, conserve and interpret evidences and information regarding culture and history of Sabah to protect Sabah’s heritage.
The museum was inaugurated in 1965 in a rented shop at Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu. It is opened to the public since 1984. E.J.Berwick was the first curator of the museum. It came under the Ministry of Community Services in 1981, and then in 1982, under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Inside the Sabah State Museum
The largest and the finest ceramic collections in Southeast Asia are at Sabah State Museum. It has a number of interesting exhibits arranged in different sections. The whale skeleton in the main hall is one of the main attractions. The Kampong Village allows entry and a chance to experience the local ethnic houses including hanging bridge and beautiful greenery environment. Variety of animal display, Historical display and Head Hunting history can be enjoyed here.
The Heritage Village is one of the main attractions at the Sabah Museum. It is situated within the Ethno Botanical Gardens in the museum complex. The Heritage Village exhibits several traditional houses of the various indigenous groups of Sabah within a small area. It consists of a Bajau House complete with a wedding dais, a Murut longhouse with a lansaran, a Chinese farmhouse with earthen floor, a bamboo house and a House of Skull.
The Museum Complex consists of Galleries housing Natural History, Ceramics, Ethnography and Archaeology exhibits. Cultural activities are also held here from time to time. Cameras are not allowed inside. Pictures can be taken from outside of the building.
Getting to the Museum
Bus No.13 can be taken towards Penampang, from the bus station in front of City Hall or Wawasan Plaza in KK that stops at Sacred Heart Church Bus stop. The Museum is in walking distance
Entrance Fees:
The museum is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Entry for students in dress, disabled guests, senior guests and taxi drivers is free. For Malaysian guests, entry charge is RM2.00 and for non-Malaysians, it is RM15.
