LEGO Stories of Singapore diorama featuring the Singapore River with bumboats and shophouses at National Museum SG60 Exhibition
The stunning 'Stories of Singapore' LEGO diorama featuring the Singapore River with bumboats and shophouses at the National Museum
August 11, 2025
by Bryan Ong

Missed the Singapore LEGO SG60 Exhibition? Here's What You Missed (and Where to See It Next!)

LEGO Merlion display at National Museum Singapore SG60 Exhibition

From 18 July to 9 August 2025, the National Museum of Singapore transformed into a LEGO lover's paradise with the LEGO SG60 Exhibition — a spectacular celebration of Singapore's 60th birthday. If you missed this free-entry event that drew families and travelers from around the world, don't worry — here's everything you need to know about what made it so special.

Iconic Singapore Recreated in LEGO Bricks

The first gallery welcomed visitors with breathtaking LEGO builds of Singapore's most beloved landmarks and cultural icons. From the majestic Merlion statue to mouth-watering recreations of local dishes, every piece told a story of what makes Singapore uniquely special.

LEGO miniature versions of Singapore's iconic dishes including chicken rice, chilli crab, kaya toast and many more
Delicious LEGO recreations of Singapore's iconic dishes - chicken rice, chilli crab, kaya toast and many more

Visitors couldn't help but smile at the playful recreations of chicken rice, chilli crab, and kaya toast and many more — bringing Singapore's food culture to life in colorful LEGO form. These builds served as the perfect introduction to a nostalgic yet inspiring journey through Singapore's heritage.

Stories of Singapore: The Grand Centerpiece

Taking center stage was the magnificent "Stories of Singapore" diorama — a masterpiece that captured the Singapore River during its golden heyday. One of the exhibition's absolute highlights was "Our Riverside Legacy" — a massive LEGO diorama of the Singapore River that paid beautiful tribute to the nation's maritime heritage.

This incredible creation depicted every detail of Singapore's maritime heritage: traditional bumboats ferrying goods across the water, historic shophouses where merchants built their fortunes, and iconic bridges connecting communities across the river.

Detailed view of the Stories of Singapore LEGO diorama showing the historic Singapore River with bumboats and shophouses
The magnificent 'Stories of Singapore' showing the historic Singapore River with bumboats and shophouses
Singapore's riverside transformation from trading port to modern city
Singapore's riverside transformation from trading port to modern city

From the shimmering water effects to the meticulously crafted brick-built shutters on traditional shophouses, every single detail told the story of Singapore's remarkable journey from maritime trading hub to today's vibrant global city.

Complementing the main displays were eight thoughtfully designed mini-builds created by talented students from the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC). Each build told a unique story about Singapore's incredible transformation from a bustling trading port to the modern global city we know today.

First three LEGO mini-builds created by CDAC students showcasing Singapore's development
Mini-builds 1-3 by CDAC students showcasing Singapore's transformation
Second set of three LEGO mini-builds by CDAC students depicting Singapore's progress
Mini-builds 4-6 by CDAC students showcasing Singapore's transformation
Final two LEGO mini-builds by CDAC students showing modern Singapore
Mini-builds 7-8 by CDAC students showcasing Singapore's transformation

It was like experiencing a visual history lesson — but told entirely through colorful LEGO bricks that brought Singapore's past to life.

The Record-Breaking LEGO Shophouse Mural

The absolute star of the show was the biggest LEGO Shophouse Mural in Singapore — a record-setting creation that celebrated Singapore's rich cultural heritage through creative interpretations of local businesses and cultural symbols.

Massive colorful LEGO Shophouse Mural featuring Singapore cultural elements including orchids and traditional shophouse designs
The record-setting LEGO Shophouse Mural celebrating Singapore's heritage

This massive, colorful masterpiece featured familiar Singapore touches woven throughout: beautiful orchids (Singapore's national flower), an authentic SMRT bus, and intricate patterns inspired by the elegant Singapore Airlines kebaya uniform — all beautifully integrated into one stunning, cohesive mural.

Interactive Fun: Play & Build Zones

Families absolutely loved the "Building Your City Through Play" corner, where children got hands-on with LEGO bricks to create their own imaginative cityscapes.

Children and families building with LEGO bricks in the interactive play zone at the National Museum
Families enjoying the hands-on 'Building Your City Through Play' zone

The exhibition also included special hands-on activities:

  • DIY Mini LEGO Orchid Workshop where you could bring home the mini orchid as a souvenir (limited slots, first-come-first-serve):
    • Every Saturday & Sunday (19 July – 3 August), 2pm – 5pm
    • 9 August 2025, 10am – 12pm & 1pm – 5pm

The exhibition also showcased popular LEGO sets with special Singapore-themed promotions:

  • LEGO Architecture Singapore (21057) — featuring a promotion offering a FREE exclusive LEGO SG60 coin for $60 spent (26 July – 31 August 2025)
  • LEGO Botanicals 10343 Mini Orchid & 10311 Orchid — paired with a FREE exclusive LEGO Singapore Minifigure for $120 spent (26 July – 31 August 2025)
Display of LEGO Architecture Singapore set and LEGO Botanicals orchid sets with promotional materials
Featured LEGO sets with special SG60 promotional offers

Don't Worry — You Can Still See Highlights at NEX Atrium!

If you missed the main exhibition at the National Museum, you're in luck! Selected highlights are currently on display at the NEX Atrium from 11 – 31 August 2025. For more details about the NEX pop-up, visit the NEX official page.

NEX shopping mall promotional brochure for LEGO SG60 Pop-Up exhibition
LEGO SG60 Pop-Up (11-31 Aug 25) (Images by NEX)

Here's what you can still see at NEX:

  • Part of the record-setting LEGO Shophouse Mural
  • The crowd-favorite 3D Hawker Man
  • The special SG60 Minifigure Model
  • The iconic LEGO Merlion

Plus, there are hands-on activities at NEX:

  • LEGO Dragon Playground Make & Take activity on weekends (16, 17, 23, 24, 30 & 31 August 2025), 10:30am – 10:30pm

Why These Cultural Exhibitions Matter

Events like the LEGO SG60 Exhibition aren't just entertaining — they're incredibly valuable ways to learn about Singapore's culture, history, and heritage in a hands-on, visually stunning format that appeals to all ages.

Whether through intricate LEGO builds or real-life architecture, these stories of Singapore's past and present come alive when you experience them up close. They help both locals and visitors understand the rich tapestry of history that has shaped modern Singapore.

Explore Singapore's Heritage Beyond the Bricks

If you're inspired by these LEGO recreations of Singapore's landmarks and want to see the real-life versions, why not combine your museum experience with exploring the actual heritage sites around the city?

From the historic Singapore River where bumboats once carried goods, to the colorful shophouses that still line our streets today, to the bustling hawker centers where you can taste the real versions of those LEGO-built dishes — Singapore's heritage is waiting to be discovered on foot.

Want to experience the Singapore behind the LEGO bricks? Join our free walking tours and discover the real-life landmarks, heritage shophouses, and cultural stories that inspired these amazing LEGO creations!

Book Now