Fort Sylvia

Fort Sylvia is a two-story ironwood structure in Kapit with large cannons on the ground floor and smaller cannons extending through hatches on the first floor. The building now serves as a museum displaying objects and artworks relating to the people of the region.

Charles Brooke built the fort in 1880 to control the Upper Rejang region, and renamed it in 1925 after Ranee Sylvia, wife of Charles Vyner Brooke. The structure became a symbol of British presence in interior Sarawak during this period.

The museum displays the traditional ways of life of indigenous peoples from the Batang Rejang region through artifacts, clothing, and textiles. Large murals on the walls show scenes from the daily life and customs of the Iban community.

The building is easy to reach on foot, and the grounds offer shelter from the frequent rains of the region. It is wise to wear comfortable shoes since the stairs and floors can be uneven.

A peace jar displayed in the museum comes from a 1924 ceremony and marks the reconciliation between the Iban, Kayan, and Kenyah peoples. This artifact recalls the time before the fort's control brought peace to the region.