Things to do in Sarawak, Malaysia: The Best History Museums

Urang Sarawak. An Exhibition about US Venue: (former) Art Museum building, Kuching The exhibition provides for local and international visitors an insight and understanding of the social history and political development of Sarawak within the wider context of Borneo and Malaysia in an attractive and engaging manner. The exhibition wants to inspire visitors to make lateral connections between events throughout Sarawak’s history. The exhibition is divided according to two main themes: 1) Peoples and Culture: includes demographic information about Sarawak’s diverse ethnic groups and their spiritual beliefs. 2) The Journey of Sarawak: covers the political development of Sarawak from the Brooke era to the formation of Malaysia with a section specially dedicated to living in Sarawak today.

Open from 24th September 2016, the 175th anniversary of the founding of the State of Sarawak, the Brooke Gallery tells the story of one of the most remarkable kingdoms in history: Sarawak and its 'White Rajahs'. In the 1830s Sarawak, a province of the once-mighty Sultanate of Brunei in north-west Borneo, was ravaged by piratical raiding and rebellion against Brunei rule. Inspired by stories of its natural wonders and diverse indigenous cultures, a bold English adventurer, James Brooke, arrived on its shores in his yacht, Royalist, in August 1839. He was to forge a unique bond with its peoples and together they built the foundations of today's Sarawak. The displays focus on the people, places and events that have shaped the state. They take us on a journey through a century of 'White Rajah' rule that began in September 1841, was shattered by the Japanese invasion of December 1941 and ended in July 1946 with Sarawak's annexation as a British Crown Colony. The subsequent move towards political independence culminated in Sarawak's part in forming the Federation of Malaysia in September 1963.