Facts And Information About The National Museum
The National Museum in Bangkok, Thailand houses the country’s greatest treasures. From the Thai History Gallery to the Archeological and Art History collections, visitors can easily spend an entire day browsing museum exhibits that date all the way back to Neolithic times. Coins, weapons, art and even ancient games are on display here, along with possessions that once belonged to the greatest kings and queens of Thailand.
In 1874, King Rama V had the foresight to commission the first museum open to the public in order to display the royal collection of his father and predecessor, King Rama IV at the Concordia palace. The museum was later moved to its current location, Wang Na, which was at that time the royal palace of the Prince Successor. In 1934, the museum was transferred to the Department of Fine Arts, who still maintain it today.
Included in the National Museum’s collections are the Royal Funeral Chariots used during royal cremation ceremonies, pavilions used in ancient times, and a life size model of an elephant dressed in full battle regalia. The National Museum has a strict dress code, and guards insist visitors conduct themselves in a manner befitting the treasures they have come to see.