The National Museum Bangkok, on Na Phrathat Road, on the opposite side of the road from the Sanam Luang field, holds a colossal collection of Thai artistic and cultural treasures. The Bangkok National Museum is the main museum of the National Museum of Thailand, which has 38 branches across Thailand.
The National Museum Bangkok traces its own history back to 1874, when King Rama V opened the first public museum exhibiting the royal collection of King Rama IV. Its original site was at the Concordia Pavilion, in the Brand Palace. Later, the museum was moved to its present site, occupying Wang Na Palace, or "Palace of the Front", which was the official residence of the Prince Successor (the "deputy king"). In 1926, it became known as the Bangkok Museum. Subsequently, when it came under the jurisdiction of the Fine Arts Department, it became known as National Museum Bangkok.
Floor Plan of the National Museum
The following are some of the more important buildings at the National Museum Bangkok.
Gallery of Thai History
The Gallery of Thai History is house in the Siwamokhaphiman Hall, which was orignally built as the Audience Hall for the Prince Successor to King Rama I, Maha Surasinghanat. Within the Gallery of Thai History are the Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Bangkok Gallery. Among the most significant items is the controversial (controversial because some scholars dispute its authenticity) stone inscription of King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai, showing the oldest extant inscription in Thai alphabet.
Within the Ayutthaya Gallery shows diorama of important events leading up to the destruction of Ayutthaya by the Burmese. The Bangkok Gallery shows historical events during the Bangkok period.
Buddhaisawan Chapel
The Buddhaisawan Chapel was built in 1787 to house the Phra Buddhasihing, an important Buddha statue. The gold-plated bronze statue was made in Sri Lanka and sent to Sukhothai via Nakhon Si Thammarat. From there, it was transferred to Ayutthaya, Kamphaengphet, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai before being brought to the Buddhaisawan Chapel in 1787. Murals inside the chapel shows the life of Buddha.
The Red House
The Red House was formerly the home of Princess Sri Sudarak, the elder sister of King Rama I. Queen Sri Suriyen, consort of King Rama II moved it from Thonburi to the Grand Palace. Later, one of her sons, Pin Klao, who was Second King to King Rama IV, moved it to the compound of the Palace of the Prince Successor (the present museum site), where it stays to this day.
Funeral Chariot Hall
The Funeral Chariot Hall houses royal funeral chariots dating back to the reign of King Rama I (1789 - 1809). The Grand Chariot of Victory located next to the door is used to transport the urn containing the body of the king or queen towards the cremation pyre. Royal cremations are carried out at Sanam Luang outside the Palace of the Prince Successor. The chariot requires 160 men to pull it.
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