Penang Time Tunnel Museum

Bee-Eye Tour of the Penang Time Tunnel Museum

Take a bee-eye tour of the Penang Time Tunnel with various exhibits called out as you pass.



Penang Time Tunnel Museum (GPS: 5.42196, 100.33953), also known as the History Museum of Penang, is a private museum in George Town, Penang. It is located at Green Hall, less than 300 meters from the Penang State Museum. The museum had its soft launch on 29 October, 2013.

Penang Time Tunnel recounts the history of Penang, in particular the island, from its earliest mention until present day. This is arranged in chronological order. Visitors to the museum follows a darkened passage. Along the way, they are told about the various chapters of the island's history.

Updates on the Penang Time Tunnel Museum

6 December, 2014
My wife and I returned to the Penang Time Tunnel, The History Museum, to meet up with artist WK Setor, the famous most popular for having paint the "I Want Pau" Mural. Mr Setor has painted a number of murals at the Penang Time Tunnel as well as at the Penang 3D Trick Art Museum. He took us around to show us the murals he has done.

This is one of our favourites, a scene from George Town Waterfront in the early 20th century.

Tom Cruise ticket attendant (6 December 2014)


Tim and Chooi Yoke at early 20th century George Town waterfront (6 December 2014)


Mural at Penang Time Tunnel (6 December 2014)


Here I am with artist WK Setor, in front of his mural at Penang Time Tunnel (6 December 2014)


I shall add some more photos soon.

Penang Time Tunnel, Penang (2 November 2013)


A replica of the Zhenghe Map dated circa 1425 where Penang (transliterated as Bin Lang Yu) was first mentioned (2 November 2013)


According to Penang Time Tunnel, the earliest mention of Penang Island was in the early 15th century, on the nautical chart of Chinese admiral Zheng He, when it appeared as Pinlang-yu. Later on, British captain James Lancaster also noted the island as "Pulau Penang" in his log, when he anchored off Pulau Jerejak (some records stated that it was Pulau Rimau).

By the time Francis Light landed on Penang Island, it was already holding pockets of Malay and Chinese settlements in the form of coastal and estuarine villages. The founding of Penang as the British settlement of Prince of Wales Island was meticulously recorded by the museum.

Nyonya porcelain on display at The Penang Time Tunnel (2 November 2013)


Coffee Shop exhibit, The Penang Time Tunnel (2 November 2013)


Exhibited here is a copy of the agreement between the King of Quedah (Sultan of Kedah) and Light for the cession of Prince of Wales Island (also mentioned on the document as "Pulo Penang"). Also exhibited is a copy of the treaty with the King of Quedah in 1791, following his unsuccessful attempt at getting back Penang Island. The treaty specified, among others, that the English shall pay His Highness the amount of six thousand Spanish Dollars every year, for as long as the English continue possession of "Pulo Penang".

The next piece of document exhibited was the treaty of 1800, between the King of Quedah and the Lieutenant Governor of Pulo Penang, Sir George Leith, where the annual payment was increased to ten thousand dollars (probably Spanish Dollars), and that the English shall continue possession of Pulo Penang as well as Province Wellesley, mentioned here as "the country on the opposite coast".

As we continue our journey through the "time tunnel" we come upon a facsimile of the actual handwritten will of Francis Light dated 20 October 1794. It appeared to have been written just five days before Light passed away.

Francis Light's will (2 November 2013)

Dioramas and Sculptures at the Penang Time Tunnel

Among the exhibits at The Penang Time Tunnel is a series of dioramas that are placed at strategic corners of the museum. They depict traditional crafts as well as historical events that took place in Penang. In addition to the dioramas, there are also life-sized sculptures. Click the thumbnail below to go to the page where the dioramas are listed.

Contact

Penang Time Tunnel
39 Green Hall
10200 George Town, Penang
Phone: +60 4 261 9181
Visiting Hours: 9:30 am - 7:00 pm (last admission ad 6:00 pm)

Getting there

The nearest bus stop is on Light Street in front of Dewan Sri Pinang. It is served by Rapid Penang bus 103, 204, 502 and CAT. From the bus stop, walk west along Light Street until junction of Green Hall. Turn right into Green Hall and walk along the road until you see the Penang Time Tunnel on your left.

The Penang Time Tunnel admission charges (2 November 2013)

Location of the Penang Time Tunnel on the map

List of Museums in Penang and Museums in Malaysia

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