The best national monuments in Singapore you should know

Date gazetted: 27 February 1998

Walk along Waterloo Street and you'll find the oldest surviving synagogue not only in Singapore, but also in Southeast Asia. Maghain Aboth Synagogue is also one of Singapore's two synagogues, joining Chesed-El Synagogue.

The synagogue was built in 1878 when many Jewish merchants and families had moved from the commercial centre to the residential areas in Dhoby Ghaut and Bras Basah.

Keep an eye out for the building's architecture, which is magnificent on its own. Its simple neoclassical facade is fronted by a porch with an entrance arch big enough to accommodate horse carriages. Inside, you'll see a hybrid of Neoclassical and colonial-style architecture, with traditional columns and rustic walls. 

24/26 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187968

Date gazetted: 8 March 1975 

The Sultan Mosque with its glistening golden dome is an iconic presence in the Kampong Gelam neighbourhood. The mosque was first built in 1824 by Sultan Hussein Shah and the original structure was demolished about a century later. The current building was completed in 1932. 

Here's a fun fact: the base of each dome is adorned with glass bottle ends that the Sultan collected as donations from poor Muslims, in order for them to be able to contribute to the building of the mosque. 

3 Muscat St, Singapore 198833

Date gazetted: 15 October 2019 

Three bridges along the Singapore River – namely Cavenagh (1869), Anderson (1910) and Elgin Bridges (1929) – are the latest to be gazetted as national monuments. NHB has chosen the trio of bridges as they are the most architecturally significant of the 14 bridges that span the Singapore River. 

The bridges, strategically located at the mouth of the Singapore River, represent a symbolic relationship with the world as they facilitated trade and transport links that were necessary for the growth of Singapore in the 19th century. So the next time you're walking along the Singapore River, keep an eye out for these historical bridges. 

1 Fullerton Square, Singapore 049178; Fullerton Rd, Singapore 049212; South Bridge Rd 

Date gazetted: 3 August 2019 

The Padang isn't a monument per se, but it was gazetted as a national monument in 2019 to commemorate Singapore's bicentennial year. The Padang – along with Singapore's bridges – are the most recent additions to our national monuments. 

The Padang has witnessed its share of iconic events in history. It became a major recreational area when two clubs, the Singapore Cricket Club in 1870 and the Singapore Recreation Club in 1883 were established at both ends of the field. The Padang used to have three names: Cantonment Plain, Raffles Plain or The Plain. 

The Padang, Singapore 179861

Date gazetted: 18 December 1998 

The Former Hill Street Police Station is a prominent landmark at the junction of River Valley Road and Hill Street, known for its colourful windows. 

Chinatown was then the heartland of secret society activities, which enabled the police to respond more effectively during gang fights and outbreaks of violence. The building, completed in 1934, exerted a police presence in the city centre which gained notoriety as the "Chicago of the East" by the 1920s. 

140 Hill St, Singapore 179369