This building was previously a century-old building. Originally, the building was a small structure built with wood and bricks. Historical notes and inscriptions revealed that this building was first erected in 1888 to house the headquarters of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, which was the first commercial bank operating in Kuala Lumpur. The bank is now known as the Standard Chartered Bank of Malaysia (established 1969).
However, the original old building structure was torn down and it was rebuilt using a combination of the characteristics typical of the Moorish and Islamic architecture. The person responsible for designing the new building was A.C Norman, who was at that time the Public Works Department's Acting Superintendent-cum-State Architect. The architecture of the museum was also harmonized with the buildings surrounding it, which were at one time the nerve of the country's administration. During the Japanese occupation, this building was used by the Japanese Telecommunication Department. Once the war was over, the function of the building as the main commercial bank was revived and lasted in 1965. The building was later occupied by the Kuala Lumpur District and Land Office which is now known as the Federal Territory Department of Land and Mines before it was taken over by the Federal Territory Religious Affairs Office or now better known as the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAWI). On the 24th October1991 this building was officially handed over to the Department of Museum and Antiquities to be turned into the National History Museum.
Gallery
A photo taken from the National History Museum of Kuala Lumpur. An 8th-9th century bronze standing 8-armed Buddhist Avalokitesvara statue found at Anglo Oriental, Bidor, Perak tin mine in year 1936. 79cm height.
A sculpture of Hang Tuah at the lobby
Prehistoric weapons on display
Replica of Buddhagupta stone
Japanese army and bicycle
Tin Animal Money
Malay Keris
Miniature Candi of Kedah's Bujang Valley
Literature
Lenzi, Iola (2004). Museums of Southeast Asia. Singapore: Archipelago Press, 200 pages. ISBN 981-4068-96-9.
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