The museum is located in the Istana Besar or Grand Palace that was specially commissioned by the Father of Modern Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar in 1864. The Grand Palace was completed two years later and if you look carefully within the palace you can see some of the Sultan’s creative ideas that were incorporated into the buildings architecture.

However in the early 1990s, the then Johor’s present ruler, His Majesty Sultan Iskandar has decided that the members of the public should be given the opportunity to view the Royal Family’s collection in a proper museum setting. And so His Majesty agreed to turn the Grand Palace into a museum where it would house the belongings for public viewing, the building however still serves functions for the traditional royal and state ceremonial activities. On May 11^th of 1990 Sultan Iskandar had officially declared the museum open for the public.

People who visit the museum will find that it houses a wide variety of works of art, furniture belonging to the Royal Family, treasures and antiquities. While the picture gallery features past and present rulers of the Sultanate and their consorts. The museum also includes a large collection of the Royal Family’s personal memorabilia as well as an impressive array of Medals, Orders and Decorations in the gallery.

There are also other rooms located within the Grand Palace that displays a variety of crystals, priceless vases, traditional Malay weapons, a numismatic collection, family treasures, silverware, gold and silver jewelry, furniture, the State Regalia, and silver trophies.

Visitors to the museum should take note that it opens from Saturdays to Thursdays, from 9am to 5pm. However for more information feel free to call this number (607) 223055.