The origin of the Sabah Museum is traced back to the British colonial administration around 1886. As the collections grew through the years the need for a permanent and more appropriate building became obvious. A modern and stylish museum complex was finally completed in 1983 and officially opened in 1984.

Built at a cost of RM 290 million, the complex is located near the city centre on Bukit Istana Lama (Old Palace Hill) along Penampang Road.

The museum complex consists of four main buildings with architecture features inspired from traditional and cultural motifs.

The Main Building
The main building resembles a Rungus and Murut longhouse with the front view depicting a Kadazan/Dusun with arms outstretched dancing the Sumazau. The sides of the building symbolises two hands opened in thanksgiving prayer while the beams represent a row of Muslims in prayer.

Within the main building are displayed invaluable collections, artefacts and specimens at the ethnography, ceramics, natural history, archeology and history exhibition galleries.

The basic display of the museum is made up of the Wooley Collection which was named after its former owner, Mr. G. C. Wooley, a chartered company administrator. This collection has increased over the years through acquisition, donations and field-work collection.

The Art Gallery and Multi-vision Theatre
The art gallery and mulit-vision theatre has its top shaped like the native hat of Sabah which is locally called Seraung.
The art gallery, situated on the first and second floors of the building has some of the best local works. The multi-vision theatre has a audio-visual presentation which is an excellent introduction to Sabah.

The Science Centre
The science centre resembles a Bajau dish cover which is locally called Tudung Saji.

One of the main functions of this centre is to provide visitors a view of the various scientific and technological developments in Sabah in the form of photographs and miniature models of projects of scientific and technological significance. It has one of the largest exhibitions on the oil and gas industry in Southeast Asia.

The Conservation Centre
The conservation building is designed in the shape of a betelnut (sirih-pinang) container box used by many indigenous people of Sabah.

This is a restricted place where all newly found and old artefacts and specimens are treated and conserved.

Sabah Museum Opening Hours
9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily

Admission rates: MYR15; students in uniforms & disabled citizens, free.