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Museums and Art Galleries in Sabah

We are always fascinated with museums as their four walls provide cultural and historical information about that country. Sabah is home to many museums on various subjects. Aquarium & Marine Museum is a unique museum having an open-water reef exhibition & mangrove walk.

Photo Credit: © CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

Sabah Museum

The Sabah Museum is one of the prominent museums in Sabah state that showcases the region's rich cultural and historical heritage in various galleries, each having its theme. The museum is located on 17-hectares of land at the Bukit Istana Lama in Kota Kinabalu. The complex also contains an ethnobotanical garden, a zoological garden and a heritage village.

Address: Jalan Muzium, Bukit Istana Lama, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Agop Batu Tulug Museum

This museum is situated at Batu Puteh Village, about 41km (25.5-miles) from Kota Kinabatangan township and 80km (50-miles) from Sandakan town. It is an isolated limestone hill about 40meters in height and is part of the Labang limestone formation, 20-25 million years ago. It was used as an ancient log coffin burial site about 500 to 900 years ago. There are three main caves in Agop Batu Tulug, namely Agop Sawat (upper cave), Agop Lintanga (middle cave) and Agop Suriba (lower cave).

Address: WDT 197, 90200 Kota Kinabatangan Sabah, Malaysia

Murut Cultural Centre

It is located in Kampung Pulong, just 10km (6.2-miles) away from the Tenom town. The Murut Cultural Centre is specially dedicated to the Murut tribes. Covering an area of 33-acres next to the Pegalan River, the building is spread over 20 acres of land.

Address: Lembaga Kebuyaan Negeri Sabah, W.D.T 72, 89909, Tenom, Malaysia

Teck Guan Cocoa Museum

For the chocoholics, the 'Teck Guan Cocoa Museum' is a dream come true, where every bit of chocolate' you have tasted will linger on forever. The museum is dedicated to the history & production of cocoa, with guided tours of a processing plant.

Address: Mile 2, Tanjung Batu Laut, Teck Guan Factory, Tawau Sabah, Malaysia

Aquarium & Marine Museum

The Aquarium & Marine Museum is a division of the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI). The BMRI was started to encourage education, research, training, and conservation in marine development. Aquarium & Marine Museum is a 2-in-1 showcase where visitors can see interesting specimens in their museum and the live ones in the aquarium.

Address: Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Locked Bag No. 2073, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Agnes Keith House Museum

Agnes Keith House (formerly known as the Newlands) is named after Agnes Newton Keith, an American author. This historic house museum provides insights into life during the administration of British North Borneo.

Address: Jalan Istana, Sandakan Sabah, Malaysia

Bukit Tengkorak Archaeological Sites

This site is located at Jalan Tampi-Tampi, south of Semporna town. Bukit Tengkorak (Skull Hill) is a arcgaeikigucak sute hill. The hill is a volcanic rock-shelter site surrounded by many hills and mountains. The hill slopes are littered with many pottery shards with many patterns dating 3,000 BP.

Address: Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia

Kinarut Mansion Ruins Museum

Address: Kinarut, Papar Sabah, Malaysia

Muzium Marin Labuan

It is a shell-shaped museum with floor-to-ceiling windows displaying marine life exhibits & a discovery room.

Address: Kompleks Sukan Air Antarabangsa Labuan, Jalan Tanjung Purun, 87008 Labuan, Malaysia

Labuan Museum

Address: U 0364, Jalan Dewan, 87008 Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan, Malaysia

Monsopiad Cultural Village

Address: Kampung Kuai Kandazon, Jalan Putatan Ramayah, 89507 Penampang, Sabah, Malaysia

Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum

Address: Jalan Menteri, Karamunsing, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Art Galleries

The Sabah Art Gallery

The Sabah Art Gallery, which is presently located in the science centre of the Sabah Museum, cares about its primary objective of treasuring art by collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and making visitors aware of it.

Address: 14, Jalan Shantung, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Tun Mustapha Gallery

The 'Tun Mustapha Gallery' is dedicated to Sabah's exceptional leader, Tun Mustapha, a freedom fighter and a leading man in Sabah's independence struggle. The museum offers a glimpse into Tun Mustapha's life in the form of his victories, struggles, and tribulations.

Address: Jalan Sulaman, 88813 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia