Heritage appreciation at Fort Canning Park

The history of Fort Canning Park

More than a hilltop park in the city, Fort Canning Park holds historical significance to Singapore. It was once the palace home to 5 Malay kings who ruled during the 14th century. 500 years later, as the British Empire was setting up a trading post in Singapore, they began using the verdant space here for civil and military purposes.

In fact, it was deep inside Fort Canning Park at the underground command centre where British Lieutenant-General Arthur E. Percival made the fateful decision to surrender Singapore to the Japanese on 15 February 1942.

Drop by the following heritage galleries for stories, artefacts and replicas from our city's history.

Admission to Fort Canning Heritage Gallery and Spice Gallery is free.

Tracing more than 700 years of history, the Fort Canning Heritage Gallery offers you an informative and in-depth overview of the rich heritage of Fort Canning Hill.

There are 5 zones to explore, spread out over 2 levels of the south wing of Fort Canning Centre. Each zone is themed according to a particular aspect or role that the historic Fort Canning Hill played in the broader history of Singapore.

Opening hours: 10am to 6pm daily. Closed on the last Monday of the month for maintenance.

Highlights:

View archaeological artefacts excavated from sites within the park.
Step into the mini-theatrette within the gallery to watch a condensed version of the "From Singapore to Singaporean: The Bicentennial Experience" film, which was previously produced for the Singapore Bicentennial centrepiece event in 2019.

Uncover the role of the spice trade in the history of Singapore and the importance of Fort Canning Park in promoting Singapore as a spice trading and production hub during an era when spices were perceived to be valuable as gold.

Opening hours: 7am to 7pm daily.

Highlights:

Learn about the early history of spice plantations in Singapore.
View replicas of a spice provision shop and local kopitiam (coffee shop) in the underpass section.

Note

The Fort Canning Spice Gallery is made possible with the support of Nomanbhoy & Sons Pte Ltd, through Garden City Fund, NParks’ registered charity and IPC.

Nomanbhoy & Sons is a homegrown spice trading company with over 100 years of history.

Guided Group Tour: Fort Canning Heritage and Spice Galleries Tour

Public Guided Tour

Join our knowledgeable guide for a captivating 90 to 120-minute journey through Singapore's pre-colonial and colonial past at Fort Canning Park. The guide will lead you through the Heritage Gallery's interactive exhibits, sharing stories of how this historic hill transformed from a 14th-century Malay settlement to a strategic colonial fortress. Discover archaeological treasures and hear fascinating tales of the people who shaped Singapore's early history.

At the Spice Gallery, our guide will bring to life the aromatic world of Southeast Asian spices, explaining how the spice trade established Singapore as a crucial maritime hub. Learn about the cultural significance of these precious commodities through engaging storytelling and sensory experiences.

How to Register

Sign up for a free public guided tour held on Saturdays, led by Fort Canning Park volunteers. You can find the sign-up page for the tour under the "Upcoming Events" tab on Fort Canning Park's webpage.

Corporate/ Private Tour

For corporate and private tour bookings, please kindly send us an email.

Download the NEAR mobile app to find a route via our park connectors or trails.