National Day is a couple of weeks away and Singapore's major museums are rolling out a couple of exciting exhibitions that give you a retrospective of the nation's history. These are the ones you should catch.

Malay Pioneers Series: Merchants & Philanthropists


Malay Pioneers Series exhibition at Bishan Library

The Malay Heritage Centre has collaborated with the National Library Board for a traveling exhibition which traces the lives of six notable traders from different ethnic communities in the Malay Archipelago who settled in Singapore in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The exhibition is currently making its final stop at Jurong West Public Library. Through Jul 31

50 Years of National Day Parades


The Guard of Honour and other contingents at the National Stadium, 1990s. (National Day)

The National Heritage Board (NHB) has launched a traveling exhibition, 50 Years of National Day Parades, following the event from 1966 to present. It  will mostly comprise vintage photographs and eyewitness accounts from participants of years past, and is currently making its stop at One Raffles Place before moving on to the Kallang Wave Mall on Jul 23. Through Aug 9

The Singapore Journey: 50 Years Through Stamps


Credit: Singapore Philatelic Museum

This exhibition will feature specially selected stamps, philatelic materials and rarely seen original stamp artworks which document the city's growth, tribulations and achievements through the years. See landmark events of Singapore’s past five decades immortalized on specially- designed stamps from various periods through Singapore's history. Admission is free. Through Oct 16