Sandakan is set to deepen its position as a hub for cultural and heritage tourism with the announcement of the Martin and Osa Johnson Gallery — a new attraction honouring the legacy of two pioneering American explorers who helped document North Borneo’s early 20th-century history.

Sabah’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Panglima Christina Liew, revealed that the gallery will be established in the vacant PWD 2002 Building, situated next to the iconic Agnes Keith House — a colonial-era residence turned museum that has become a cornerstone of the Sandakan Heritage Trail.

“The Martin and Osa Johnson Gallery will enrich our heritage tourism offerings and serve as an important complement to the Agnes Keith House,” Liew said. “It provides a platform to share the remarkable stories of the Johnsons, whose work in North Borneo contributed to early visual documentation of our people, wildlife, and natural landscapes.”

Martin and Osa Johnson were trailblazing American filmmakers and explorers whose expeditions in the 1920s and 1930s captured rare footage of life in what is now Sabah. Their 1920s silent film Jungle Adventure, widely regarded as one of the world’s first wildlife documentaries, featured striking scenes from the Kinabatangan River and surrounding jungles. Their work remains a valuable historical archive of Borneo’s biodiversity and indigenous cultures.

Liew added that the gallery will likely become a compelling stop for international heritage tours, especially those targeting American travellers. It will also serve to enhance the existing Sandakan Heritage Trail, which includes the Agnes Keith House and St. Michael and All Angels’ Church.

From 2022 to 2024, the Agnes Keith House drew over 64,800 visitors, with nearly 8,000 more arriving between January and April this year — including more than 1,500 foreign tourists, according to data from the Sabah Museum Department.

The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Kansas, USA, has long been a partner in preserving the couple’s legacy. In 2004, it donated more than 2,000 archival photographs taken during the Johnsons’ time in Borneo to the Sabah Museum. These images were presented by the Kansas museum’s chief curator, Jacquelyn Borgeson, who also played a role in conceptualising the new gallery alongside former Sabah Museum curator Stella Moo.

The launch of the Martin and Osa Johnson Gallery reinforces Sandakan’s identity as a destination where heritage meets eco-tourism. Located on Sabah’s east coast, approximately 320km from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan continues to attract visitors with its unique blend of natural wonders and storied past.

The gallery is expected to open new opportunities for cultural exchange, education, and tourism, ensuring that the stories of Sabah’s early explorers — and the communities they encountered — are preserved for generations to come.