Founded in 1883, the Perak Museum (Muzium Perak) is the oldest museum in Malaysia and is housed in an art deco colonial building opposite Taiping Jail. A quick visit here will give you an insight into the history of the area, including its people, culture, art, and natural environment. History enthusiasts will enjoy learning about the history of Perak, but there are a whole range of items that should hold everybody’s interest, including children. Old radios, bicycles, and traditional clay works sit among the collection, plus there are various stuffed animals and a huge elephant’s skeleton for those interested in zoology. The museum is divided into four main areas: the Nature Gallery, Cultural Gallery, Indigenous People Gallery, and the Temporary Gallery, where exhibits are rotated throughout the year.
In addition, there are outdoor exhibits featuring a number of vintage cars, a 1930s Bedford truck, a carriage from a Perak State Railway Company train, and a Malaysian airforce jet fighter.