National Museum of Malaysia

The National Museum of Malaysia, located in Kuala Lumpur, highlights Malaysian history and culture. Located near the Lake Gardens and the National Art Gallery, the museum is housed in a large structure built in the style of Minangkabau, specifically the Rumah Gadang style. It references the Malay royal palaces and vernacular Malay architecture.

The galleries exhibit the ethnology and natural history of Malaysia. Its permanent collection includes exhibitions on history, culture, tradition, economy, flora and fauna, arts and crafts and weapons, and ranges in time from the Stone Age through colonialism and Independence. While many of the artworks were razed after World War II, some highlights of the museum include the stone makara statue and the bronze Avalokiteshvara of Bidor. Another highlight is the Istana Satu, an original Terengganu timber palace that was built in 1884.

_{(Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.)}