Once Upon a Tide: Stories of the Singapore River and Surrounding Seas

Authors: Priscilla Chua, Kan Shuyi, Kong Yen Lin, Samuel Lee, Ruchi Mittal, Iskander Mydin, Harold Tam, Daniel Tham, Jan Yap and Miriam Yeo

What is the Singapore River’s place in our history? For centuries, Singapore’s waters have played an integral role in our journey, with the river’s transformation mirroring the island’s own evolution from a thriving 14thcentury port to a global powerhouse of today.

Written by the National Museum of Singapore’s curatorial team in commemoration of Singapore’s 60th year of independence, this collection of stories explores the milestones and memories of the Singapore River and its surrounding seas as the historical origin of our connections with the world.

From ancient ceramics unearthed near the Singapore River, to the catalytic effect of the Suez Canal on Singapore’s port and harbour, and representations of the river in our cultural imagination, Once Upon a Tide invites you to discover how past and present connections between Singapore’s river, sea and identity continue to shape the currents of our future.