The largest collection of historical relics and works of art in all of Southeast Asia is housed in the Bangkok National Museum. The scale of the collection is truly astounding: the entire history of Thailand is represented here - from Stone Age artifacts to the most valuable modern exhibits.
Weapons, jewelry, and household items were collected during archaeological expeditions in Thailand, as well as in neighboring countries whose histories are closely intertwined. The culture of the countries with which the Thai people are united by Buddhism is also represented here - India, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia.
The selection of exhibits traditional for museums of this class reveals the themes of the everyday life of ordinary people and the nobility, folk crafts, tools for labor and hunting, national costumes and ceremonial attire, works of art, and religious objects. The collection related to Thai theater and the famous Khon masked dance especially attracts visitors' attention - theatrical costumes and masks, musical instruments, and scenery.
The Bangkok National Museum is located in the former palace of the vice king and consists of a complex of buildings, including the famous Buddhaisawan Chapel with its unique Buddha statue. The palace ensemble is the same age as Bangkok: it began to be built in 1782, when the present capital was also founded. The National Museum itself was established in 1874 by King Rama V on the basis of the personal collection of valuables and antiquities of his father, Rama IV.
