Musing in Museums: Kuala Lumpur City Gallery (Malaysia)

Kuala Lumpur City Gallery (The security guard is playing with a cat! LOL.)

It’s already June. By now, many establishments have reopened and public transport resumes (stay safe, everyone). But it will take some time for me to gather content for future articles. Fortunately, I still have some stock and I’m hoping to be able to stretch it out for the entire month. For today and on Thursday, I’ll be posting about 2 museums in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia. Next week, I’ll post 2 more articles on KL. Anyway…

Whenever I visit a city, I always try to learn about it’s culture and history. This can be done with visits to museums. So when I visited KL, I went to Kuala Lumpur City Gallery. Conveniently located beside Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) and surrounded with historical sites, the Gallery tells the story of the Malaysian capital.

At the Independence Square with the Sultan Abdul Samad Building in the background

The Gallery is also housed in a colonial building with Moorish architecture. Since 1898, the building has served different functions through time: The colonial government’s printing press, the Metropolitan Postal Security Office, and most recently the Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library, which is the city’s first public library and also a research center for anything KL-related (the library is now located besides the Gallery). Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take a photo of the building because the surrounding was boarded up, probably due to renovation works.

It’s worth mentioning that the Gallery is owned and managed by ARCH, an organization that used to focus on architectural scale models and later diversified into the gift industry, producing high-quality corporate and tourist-related items. ARCH is best known for its 2D and 3D products made with laser-cut wood veneer, mostly modelled after KL’s heritage sites and iconic structures like the Petronas Towers (more on the products later).

Here are 5 things I like about the Gallery:

You can learn about the history of KL through its exhibit

Literally “muddy estuary”, Kuala Lumpur is founded in 1857 at the confluence of Gombak and Klang Rivers. It used to be a tin mining settlement. Miners from across the globe went to KL, causing conflicts and gang wars. But the first Chinese Kapitan of KL, Yap Ah Loy, came to power and restored law and order.

In 1880, the British representative Sir Frank Swettenham developed the first city plan that would transform KL into a modern town. Through the years, the city has become the capital of the State of Selangor, the Federated Malay States, the Federation of Malaya, and, finally, of Malaysia.

and facts about KL through an audio-visual-lights show

The Spectacular City Model Show features a massive scale model of KL, measuring 40 ft. by 50 ft.! Then there is a multimedia presentation, showing the history of KL through audio and video and projecting light to more than 5000 pieces of miniature structures.

There are also miniature art that your eyes can feast on

You will see not only scale models of KL structures but also cool miniature art. Ready your cameras and open your Instagram!

Miniature people diving at a Three Layer Tea (left) and skating over a smartphone case (right)

ARCH is known for its 3D wood veneer models

Of course, you can shop ARCH products at the Arch Kuala Lumpur Gift Shop

If you want to buy ARCH miniatures and other souvenirs, the Gallery has a massive store on your way out. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough budget to buy some scale models (which I love).

ARCH’s 2D products made with wood veneer

After touring the Gallery, you can have a snack at ARCH Cafe

I actually looked forward to snacking here the most! LOL.

At ARCH Cafe in Kuala Lumpur City Gallery

The cafe is known for their Durian Imperial, a cake shaped like the King of Fruits. Both the chiffon and the icing are nicely durian-flavored, perfect for an afternoon snack…to a durian lover like me! (My friends didn’t enjoy it like I did!)

Durian Imperial (left) and Three Layer Tea with Grass Jelly (right)

And to beat the KL heat, pair your cake with their Three Layer Tea with Grass Jelly, which is sweetened black tea with evaporated milk. Aside from its nice colors, what makes this drink unique is that it’s sweetened with gula melaka (palm sugar).

Here’s a bonus: You can pose at the iconic I LOVE KL monument

If you’ve been researching on places to visit at KL, then you’ve probably seen photos of the red I LOVE KL monument. That icon is located at the entrance of the Gallery. Take a selfie and update your profile picture or Instagram feed!

Unfortunately (and I’m not sure why), I didn’t take a photo of it or with it. Maybe because I was already satisfied with the one inside:

I enjoyed my visit to the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery. It’s a fascinating place to learn about KL’s history and even just to hang out, especially with a Durian Imperial. LOL. I highly recommend a visit here!

Address: 27 Jalan Raja, Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur | Operating Hours: Daily, 9:00AM-6:30PM | Admission Fees: MYR10 for aged 3 and above | Facebook | Website