Explore Singapore through its stories at Straits Times exhibition
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People visiting an interactive roving exhibition by The Straits Times at Westgate Mall on July 25.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
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If you were editor of The Straits Times, what news would you put on the front page?
Would it be the most gory crime story of the day that is sure to draw eyeballs, or a more sedate but high-brow business story that could affect many people’s livelihoods?
You can try your hand at making that decision – and more – at Heartbeats And Headlines: 180 Years Of Telling The Singapore Story
This is an interactive roving exhibition by ST, part of a series of events organised to celebrate the newspaper’s 180th anniversary in 2025. ST published its first edition on July 15, 1845.
Look out also for scenes of Singapore of yesteryear – places like Clarke Quay and the Padang that your parents and grandparents would have seen develop over the years – and compare these with how much the nation has changed since then. These images all come from the ST archives.
Last but not least, “time travel” with ST to any date between July 15, 1845 and the present. You can find out what made the front page on the day you were born, or on your wedding day.
The exhibition traces ST’s journey from a colonial newspaper to a national broadsheet, and its evolution into the multi-platform media outlet that it is today. It also takes visitors through various milestones, including war and occupation in 1942, the nation’s dramatic exit from Malaysia in 1965, the very first MRT trains starting service in 1987, and the national football team’s victory in the Malaysia Cup in 1994.
Visitors can complete activities to receive limited-edition gifts like a tote bag or notebook – available only at this exhibition, while stocks last.
The exhibition, which was at Jewel Changi Airport earlier in July, will be at Westgate from July 25 to Aug 3, before concluding its run at Raffles City Shopping Centre following an Aug 8 to 17 display.
The exhibition sponsors are the Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore Pools and Singtel.
