The highlight of the exhibits is a trio of diplodocid sauropod skeletons. These dinosaur remains are 150 million years old and have been nicknamed Apollonia, Prince and Twinky. The university’s Faculty of Science acquired the skeletons from the company that discovered them in the US state of Wyoming four years ago.
The 8,500-metre² museum features a dedicated exhibition gallery with 2.000 specimens and a heritage gallery with artefacts and displays themed on Singapore’s evolvement. Prior to the opening, the museum released a statement saying that entry was by reservation only and allowed a time-slot of 90 minutes per visit.
Tickets are available from local ticketing agent Sistic and for international visitors are priced at SGD20 for adults and SGD12 for children. Tickets for local residents are discounted by about 33 per cent. There is also an additional booking fee which varies with the number of tickets purchased.
The first visitor session begins at 10:00 every day. From then it is at 90-minute intervals with the last entry at 17:30. The museum’s website says scheduled entry times enhance the visitor experience and do away with the queues that are common at other major cultural establishments around the world.
Singapore dinosaurs ready to greet visitors
News in Asia
Today sees the official opening of Singapore’s brand new natural history museum and a trio of ancient dinosaurs are eagerly awaiting the first visitors. Lee Kong Chian Museum is located on the campus of the city-state’s national museum and is a seven-storey structure packed with thousands of flora and fauna exhibits.