Bangkok National Museum

The Bangkok National Museum is the main branch museum of the National Museums in Thailand and also one of the largest museums in Southeast Asia. It features exhibits of Thai art and history. It occupies the former palace of the vice king, set between Thammasat University, and the National Theater, facing Sanam Luang. The museum was established and opened in 1874 by King Rama V to exhibit relics from the rule of King Rama IV's rule.

Today the galleries contain exhibits covering the Thai History back to Neolithic times. The collection includes The King Ram Khamhaeng Inscription, which was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme registered in 2003 in recognition of its significance. Other than preserving and displaying Thai artifacts dating from the Dvaravati, Srivijaya, to Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods, the museum also displays extensive collections of regional Asian Buddhist Arts such as Indian Gandhara, Chinese Tang, Vietnamese Cham, Indonesian Java, and Cambodian Khmer arts. As of April 2019, the museum is nearing the end of a decade-long renovation of its exhibition rooms. Twelve halls have been revamped already. 

History of Bangkok National Museum
Bangkok National Museum was originally established by King Rama V around the private collection of antiquities of his father King Rama IV (Mongkut). The National Museum is on the grounds of the former Wang Na, the "Front Palace" which was built for the vice king, a sort of crown prince (Thailand has no law of primogeniture. The king traditionally named his own successor, who was often his brother rather than his son). The post was eliminated by Rama IV and the National Museum was set up in the former palace in 1887.

In 1874, King Rama V ordered the establishment of the first public museum at the Concordia Pavilion inside the Grand Palace to exhibit the royal collection of King Rama IV, and other objects of general interest. Concordia Museum opened on 19 September 1874, and the Fine Arts Department has marked that day as the birth of the first national museum of Thailand.

In 1887, King Rama V ordered the museum moved from Concordia to the front palace, and called it "Wang Na Museum" or 'Front Palace Museum'.

In 1926, it was named the "Bangkok Museum" and subsequently developed into the Bangkok National Museum, when it came under the direction of the Fine Arts Department in 1934.

Bangkok National Museum highlights
Exhibits at Bangkok National Museum are divided into over 12 halls, with multimedia displays in English. You can see relics from King Rama IV's rule, which spanned between the Sukothai and Rattanakosin periods.

The Archaeological and Art History collection showcases items from Thailand's prehistory, from the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya eras through to the modern Thai Kingdom. Standouts of the Decorative Arts and Ethnological collection include Chinese weapons, precious stones, Khon masks, ceramics, textiles, and traditional musical instruments from Southeast Asia.

Bangkok National Museum has a funeral chariot hall displaying carriages used for royal cremations, and many excellent examples of Thai architecture. Free tours in English, German, French and Japanese take place on different days of the week.

Bangkok National Museum

• Location: Na Phra That Alley, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
• Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 9am to 4pm (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
• Phone: +66 2 224 1333
• Established: 19 September 1874