Museum of Siam (video)
(Somluck Rungaree / Shutterstock.com)
Museum of Siam in Bangkok is housed in a beautiful building from 1922, designed by the Italian architect Mario Tamagno.
It was used for many years as housing of the Thai Commerce Ministry. Now the three-storey building is a museum that takes the visitor from ancient Siam to modern-day Thailand.
The museum mainly gives a picture of Thailand as Thais like to see it themselves. Nevertheless, it is worth a visit.
The museum offers a contemporary view of Thailand's history, culture and identity, transforming the traditional museum concept into an interactive learning environment.
Here are some highlights and features of the Museum of Siam:
- Building and location: The museum is housed in a neoclassical building that originally served as the former headquarters of the Thai Ministry of Commerce. The building itself is an architectural gem, located in the historic part of Bangkok near the Grand Palace and the Wat Pho temple.
- Interactive exhibitions: Unlike traditional museums that focus mainly on static displays, the Museum of Siam uses interactive technologies, multimedia presentations and hands-on activities to provide visitors with an immersive experience.
- Exploration of identity: The central theme of the museum is “What does it mean to be Thai?”. This is explored through various exhibitions that highlight the cultural, historical, geographical and social aspects of Thai identity.
- History: The museum takes visitors on a journey through time, from the earliest civilizations that inhabited the area to modern times, highlighting the evolution of Thai culture and society.
- Educational programs: The Museum of Siam also offers various educational programs and workshops, designed for both children and adults, to delve deeper into specific topics or skills related to Thai culture.
- Temporary exhibitions: In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum regularly offers temporary exhibitions on various subjects, providing an ever-changing and evolving experience for returning visitors.
- Cafe and shop: For those who want to take a break or pick up a souvenir, the museum also offers a café and a shop with a selection of books, crafts and other items related to Thai culture.
In short, the Museum of Siam is more than just a place to view artifacts; it is a vibrant and dynamic space where visitors are invited to explore and experience the rich tapestry of Thai identity and history. For anyone visiting Bangkok and wanting to gain a deeper insight into the country's culture and past, a visit to the Museum of Siam is a must.
Located on Sanam Chai Road in Old Town Bangkok, the Museum of Siam is open six days a week (closed on Mondays) from 10.00am to 18.00pm.
Entrance is 100 baht for Thai and 200 baht for foreigners. After 16.00 p.m. admission is free. You can also borrow an audio guide under a deposit of, for example, your passport, driving license or credit card. A must if you ask me because not everything was on the information panels.
Or you can buy a 'Muse Pass' annual museum card for 299 baht. That came in handy because I didn't have any plastic tickets in my pocket and unlike some other museums you can't guarantee (1000 baht) money. I was allowed to use my Muse pass as a deposit.
Pretty nice to visit sometime. You can walk through it in 1 to 2 hours. The interactive is, for example, opening drawers (for information about utensils, clothing, etc.) or placing plates with food on a table (for information about those dishes). Nice idea, but if every museum is this interactive, it will take you a lot longer to absorb all the displays and information. But just an information panel will be too boring. And yes, it mainly shows how 'the Thai' like to see themselves. That is not disturbing or anything, but something to realize: the less flourishing aspects of Thailand and Thai society are not discussed. Nevertheless, worth a visit.