Museums

Museums wouldn't exactly be at the top of our list of places to see in Thailand, but there are a few 'museum-like' places that you might want to put on your itinerary, listed below. In fact there are more than 200 museums around the country, devoted to everyting from past monarchs to forensic science.

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Listed below are the museums and related sights from around Thailand that are covered here at Thailand for Visitors.

Ayutthaya Province

Bang Sai Royal Arts & Crafts Center: This project of Her Majesty the Queen is designed to keep the traditional Thai crafts alive. Started around 1990, the center now consists of extensive parks and workshops on the Chaophraya river about 30 Km North of Bangkok.

Bangkok

The Ancient City: Just outside Bangkok, on the old route to Pattaya, a Thai tycoon conceived a sort of "Cultural Theme Park" where Thais could learn about their country's architectural history. The huge outdoor museum easily takes a full day to visit and enjoy.
The Jim Thompson House Museum: Take a brief tour of the house belonging to the king of Thai silk.
National Museum: Housed in the former palace of the second king, the buildings of the National Museum are as much on display as the artifacts within.
Suan Pakkard Palace Museum: This residence consists of a collection of traditional Thai style houses bought together and turned into a museum by some minor royals.
The Princess Mother Memorial Park: This little park also has a museum dedicated to the late Princess Mother. One exhibition hall chronicles her life while another displays various aspects of her life and her many projects to help advance the poor of Thailand.
King Prajadhipok Museum: King Prajadhipok ruled as Rama VII for just ten years, from 1925 to 1935, but his reign marked the end of the absolute monarchy. This makes the king an interesting subject and a new museum was open in 2001 specifically devoted to him.
Erawan Museum: It certainly qualifies as one of Bangkok's most interesting museums. The Erawan Museum is housed in a huge sculpture of a mythical three-headed elephant.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai City Art & Cultural Center: Located in the old Provincial Administration building, the Cultural Center provides an historical background to the development of Chiang Mai.
Wat Gate Museum: In the compound of Wat Gate is one of our favorite Chiang Mai museums, featuring old photographs of Chiang Mai before tourism.

Chiang Rai Province

Chiang Saen National Museum: The museum is a good starting point if you're planning to spend some time looking around Chiang Saen. There are pictures of the major temples around town, as well as artifacts recovered from various excavations. Some of them date from pre-history.

Songkhla

Songkhla National Museum: The quite interesting museum of Songkhla is housed in a huge Chinese styled mansion once occupied by the provincial governor.

Nakorn Si Thammarat

Nakorn Si Thamarat National Museum: Nakorn Si Thammarat's branch of the National Museum is full of artefacts of the South's long history. Of particular interest are some seventh century Mon inscriptions taken from Wat Phra Mahathat, ceramics from the Chinese Tang (518 - 907 AD) and Song (960 - 1274 AD) dynasties found in the waters around Nakorn Si Thammarat, and golden niello fittings from King Rama V's royal barge.

Museum & Monuments Links

Thailand Museums: Information about national museums throughout Thailand.
Thailand Zoos: Site covering several zoos in Thailand, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Sri Racha.