Join our ambassadors, Mark Lee and Suhaimi Yusof and venture out to our museums and other heritage venues as Explore Singapore! returns once again! This year, the annual campaign organised by the National Heritage Board carries the theme “Heritage Hop-About”, and boasts of over 20 activities held at over 15 museums and institutions. And for the first time, 27 monuments will be open to the public through 16 walking tours during Explore Singapore! 2011.

Iconic comedy duo, Mark Lee & Suhaimi Yusof

With the theme ‘Heritage Hop-About’, Explore Singapore! 2011 aims to reach out to Singaporeans to participate in this museum extravaganza and to go past the museums’ doors and experience the heritage stories that fill the hallway. This campaign also seeks to encourage Singaporeans to ‘hop-about’ from museum to museum to learn about the different aspects of heritage that each experience and activity brings.

Hop #1: The inaugural Monument Open House will see 27 National Monuments open to the public, with free tours conducted by guides from the Preservation of Monuments Board and some by monument owners themselves! These include privately-owned monuments such as House of Tan Yeok Nee (Former Salvation Army Headquarters) and the Chesed El-Synagouge. Don’t miss a special tour of the monuments along Telok Ayer Street by Mark and Suhaimi.

Hop #2: For the first time, an immersive guided night tour of Fort Siloso will provide members of the public with a glimpse into the trials and deprivations of World War II conditions with SYONAN-TO, 1942.

Hop #3: Journey through Clans in Chinatown, organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Singapore City Gallery, will provide an insight into some of the oldest clan associations in Singapore, and introduce them to the architecture of the historic buildings they are located in.

Hop #4: Movie buffs, pack your picnic baskets and join Mark and Suhaimi at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) for a screening of ‘It’s a Great Great World’ at It’s a Great, Great Weekend at ACM!.

Hop #5: Children will love the I’m a Singapore History Explorer interactive tour at the National Museum of Singapore, which will see them following the adventures of Italian journalist Luisa Contini as they learn about Singapore’s history together!

Hop #6: Join Mark Lee at the newly re-opened Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall for Down the Memory Lane  – History, Food and Fun! where visitors get to  learn about Dr Sun through traditional food, games and performances.

For more information about Explore Singapore! 2011, visit www.museums.com.sg/es11 or ‘like’ I Love Museums Facebook page here.