The oldest museum in Borneo can be considered to be the Sarawak State Museum. The museum was formed in 1888 and was officially opened in 1891. The museum is located in Kuching, Sarawak in a purpose built building. With the strong encouragement of Alfred Russel Wallace and the sponsorships of the second White Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Brooke, the Sarawak State museum was finally established.
The Sarawak State Museum published an annual journal that goes by the name of Sarawak Museum Journal. The first publication of this journal was in 1911 and the inaugural editor of this journal being John Moulton. This journal is by far one of the oldest scientific journals in South East Asia. The journal covers topics that range from ethnology, natural history and history pertaining to the island of Borneo. Copies of the current and previous issues of the Sarawak Museum Journal are available at the museum.
The Sarawak State Museum is divided into the following eight museums, they are the Petroleum Museum, the Textile Museum, the Baram Regional Museum, the Limbang Regional Museum, the Niah Archaeology Museum, the Chinese History Museum, the Islamic Museum, the Sarawak Museum (Dewan T.A.R.) and the Sarawak Museum (Old Building).
The Sarawak State Museum has a collection of artifacts that range from the Decorative Arts, Metal Work, Islamic Arts, Rituals, Textile, Basketry, Ceramics and Archaeology.
When in the beautiful area of Kuching in Sarawak one must try a Kuching serviced apartment. Kuching serviced apartments are available for tourists and visitors at the Somerset Gateway.