The roots of Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum go back to the “Singapore Institution” envisioned by Sir Stamford Raes in 1823. This was renamed the Raes Library and Museum, and opened in 1887 at Stamford Road. It soon became a focal point for zoological and anthropological research in the region. Until 1965, it was a bastion of South-east Asian biodiversity studies, with a substantial zoological collection, an impeccable research record and its own international journal, the Bulletin of the Raes Museum.

Singapore’s independence saw it become the National Museum, and the zoological collections and displays were moved to the Singapore Science Centre and the University of Singapore in the early 1970s. The National University of Singapore inherited most of these collections and consolidated it as the Zoological Reference Collection (ZRC). The ZRC’s present premises were opened in 1988 by the then Minister of Education, Dr Tony Tan. In 1998, NUS expanded ZRC’s role by making it a research facility and the Raes Museum of Biodiversity Research was established. The Museum’s collections grew rapidly as research expanded, material obtained through numerous regional collaborative expeditions and projects, exchanges with other institutions, as well as donations by the public and naturalists.

The new Museum’s primary public role will be to engage visitors on issues on biodiversity, environment and conservation in and of South-east Asia. With an iconic rock-like building, it will be a one-stop exhibition, education and research facility servicing a multitude of biodiversity activities in Singapore and the region.