Penang State Museum

Overview

The Penang State Museum occupies a colonial-era building on Farquhar Street, tracing the island's multicultural history from early Malay maritime kingdoms through Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial periods to modern independence.

Highlights

• Colonial Gallery: Photographs and documents from the founding of Penang by Francis Light in 1786 through the Japanese occupation.
• Ethnography Collection: Artefacts from Penang's Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Eurasian communities.
• Art Gallery: A rotating selection of paintings and prints by Malaysian artists on the upper floor.

History

Established in 1965, the museum is housed in a building originally constructed in 1821 as the Penang Free School—one of the oldest English-language schools in Southeast Asia.

Visitor Tips

• Closed Fridays: The museum is closed every Friday.
• Free admission: Entry is RM1 for adults.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes.