Bangkok Attractions - Bangkok Museum

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Jim Thompson House is a house belong to the late James H.W. Thomson who came to Thailand as an officer in the US forces during World War II. When he war ended, he decided to settle in the Kingdom. During his stay, Thompson become interested in traditional Thai textiles, and being trained as an architect, tie used his talent to create new designs and colour schemes for his textiles. The name Jim Thompson become synonymous with Thai silk after he intro?duced the traditional silk to the international market. He had arranged for dismantling of ancient teak houses from various places and reassembled them on the bank of Sansap Canal in Bangkok, today known as Jim Thompson's House. He myster?iously disappeared during a visit to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia in 1967, leaving behind him his house of historical value as his memorial in Thailand.

Ban Thai Museum: Apart from Thompson's splendid art collection and personal belongings exhibited here, the rooms were arranged to reflect the life of Thai people in former times. The garden, featuring various native Thai flowers, is maintained in a natural way and to reflect Thai art and living culture.

king Taksin is the great king who liberated Thailand after Ayutthaya fell to Burma in 1767. In 1937, Mr. Thongyoo Phuttapat, the MP of Thonburi Province at that time, proposed the building of King Taksin the Great Monument at Wongwian-yai Circle, Thonburi Province, for Phraya Phaholpholpha yuhasena's government.

The Dept. of Fine Arts, at the government's direction designed seven models and exhibited them the public at the Constitution Fair of that same year to seek for public opinions and votes. The voting combined with donation was counted by doration cards put for each model without regarding the value of money put in. The winning model counting 3,932 cards was the form the Monument has taken.

As the Solar System, astronomy, outer space, nature and the environment, and technology are part of reality and human ways of life, the Science Centre was established for the purpose of educating the youth and the general public in these subjects. Here can be found multimedia presentations, exhibits of models and real objects, and educational processes giving experience with various activities at every opportunity.

Bangkok Planetarium: Shows programmes divided into two parts: showing of stars in the sky between twilight and dawn, and multi-vision slide shows for which the programme changes every month.

Science and Technology Building: This has a permanent exhibition on four floors about the bases of human life, where visitors can do experiments and make tests, and otherwise interact with the exhibits. For instance, the first floor displays the world of science, satellite communications, and the miracle of laser light. The second floor opens up the world of energy, the history of timekeeping.and robot technology.

Nature and Environment Building: This has permanent exhibitions using diverse and modern media. Visitors can learn by participating in activi?ties inside the exhibition on six floors. Floors three to eight start with the prehistoric world and fossils, going on to humans and the environment, and natural disasters, the world of insects, the Discovery Room Cyber Club, and natural heritage.

Underwater World Building: Shows the evolution of aquatic animals and many species of beautiful fish

Exhibition of Sports Science: Displays the importance of our bodies, the history of sports science, knowledge of exercise and tests of the body capabilities,. Outdoor exercise equipment includes an artificial climbing wall, which tests various parts of the body.

The Centre also has arranged training, demonstration lectures, field trips and sports events as well as regular activities on important days both students and the general public.

The museum was established in 1993 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Thai institution of attorneys in order to collect valuable legal items.

The Exhibits are old documents and office equipment which were collected from attorney's offic throughout the country.

Attorney's Office Corner: Displays the general atmosphere of an attorney's office. The corner comprises an eight-legged table, document trays, legal gowns, office equipment, etc.

Ancient Legal Book Library: Collects rare legal books such as Volume One of "Thai Law,' two works by Dr. Bradley, works by HRH Prince Rabi, the Father of Thai Law, 1st-25th Royal Gazettes, Official Records of attorneys' offices frorr 1914- present, and documents from historical and interesting cases, etc.

Antique Buddha Image Room: Display Buddha images from the Dvaravati to the Early Rattanakosin period and a statue of King Rama I.

Past Attorney Generals Room: Display pictures of the first Attorney General to the present.

Chalermphrakiat Public Legal Library : Contains books for legal research.

King Rama V founded Siriraj Hospital to provide modern medical treatment for Thai people. During the time when the hospital was being built, HRH Prince Sirirajgaguthapan, the first son of Queen Sri Bajarindra, fell ill and died of cholera. The King donated the wood used in the Prince's cremation ceremony to the building of the hospital and gave it the name Siriraj in the Prince's memory.

The hospital was Thailand's first medical school, with books and medical specimens collected in several museums that were established in the hospital to help medical students with their studies and research projects.

Congdon Anatomical Museum: (3rd floor Anatomy Bldg.) This two-room museum was founded in 1927 by Prof. Dr. Edgar Davidson Congdon, who was sent by the Rockefeller Foundation to improve Thai medical studies. lt contains over 2,000 exhibits, including skeletons, figures of humans and animals, the bodies and organs of Siamese twins preserved in ethyl-alcohol, and most importantly a display of the peripheral nervous system and the blood system, both of which are very difficult to dissect.

In the past, Thailand was an agricultural society with settled communities growing beside the waterways. The river was the m important avenue of communication, and boats were the standard form of transport for everyone the Royal Barges as well as artifacts and accessories used I the ceremony.

Suphannahong Royal Barge: The prow of the barges vas sculpted in a mythological swan figure, and the vessel was completed in the reign of King Rama VI. This is the highest class of Royal barge, and is was awarded the Sea Heritage Medal from the World Ships Organisation of Great Britain in 1981.

Anantanagaraj Royal Barge: The prow of this barge is carved in the form of a seven-head naga. It is use to carry the Buddha image or Phra Krathin, the monks' robes offered during the festival. ,

Anekchartputchong Royal Barge: This was built in the reign of King Rama V, and is the one Royal barge to be coloured pink.

Among the exhibits in the museum are the Kanya Throne, Budsaba Throne, and many kinds of oars and paddles. Due to lack of space, only of the Royal barges can be seen there. The other five a kept at Wasukree Pier and at the Royal Tai Navy Transport Department

Originally the Personal Museum of King Rama IV with a collection of antiques and Royal Gifts, King Rama V subsequently opened the Sahathai Samakom Pavilion (Concordia Tower) in the Grand Palace grounds as a Public Museum. It was then moved to three palace buildings in he Front Palace (Wang Na). King Rama VII then Save over all buildings in the Front Palace to be he Bangkok Museum. Exhibition areas are split into three groups:

Gallery of Thai Nation: From the Kingdom of Sukhothai to the Rattanakosin period, in the Sivamokhaphiman Hall.

History of Art and Archaeology in Thailand: Divided into two periods: Prehistory, at the back of the Sivamokhaphiman Hall, and the Historical period, exhibiting sculpture from the 15th century 80 to the Rattanakosin period at the Prapat Pipitthapan Building, with sculpture from before this period on display in the Maha Surasinghanat Building.

Fine Arts and Ethnology: Includes displays of musical instruments, nielloware, gold, mother-of -pearl inlay, wood carvings, old textiles, khon masks, puppets, etc. in the group of palace buildings.

Funeral Chariot Hall: Displays funeral carriages such as Phra Mahaphichai Ratcharot, Vejjayantra Ratcharot, the Small Carriage (Ratcharot Noi) and other paraphernalia of Royal Cremations.

In the past, the Front Palace was of secondary importance only to the main palace, and was the residence of Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Surasinghanat, the heir apparent. The many buildings inside include Bhuddhaisawan Chapel, Tamnak Daeng (Red House), Mungkhalaphisek Pavilion, and Sala Longsong Pavilion, considered to be "outstanding examples of traditional Thai architecture."

The museum is in the Royal Thai Army's Headquarters Building and the Armory of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.

The Office of HM's Principal Private Secretary permitted the use of the name "Royal Thai Army Museum in Honour of HM the King" and the use of the Official Golden Jubilee Seal to decorate the building. The Army opened it to the public in 1996, the year of His Majesty the King's Golden Jubilee.

Military History Model Room: (1st fl.) Shows the history of military evolution, ancient weapons, and models of important events in the history of the Royal Thai Army.

Weapons Room: (1st fl.) Guns used by the army from the early Rattanakosin period up to the Vietnam War, and weapons seized from enemy forces are displayed here.

Flag and Equipment Room: (2nd fl.) Displays battle flags, service manuals and various kinds of Military equipment and regalia.

Uniforms and Insignia Room: (3rd fl.) The evolution of uniforms from the Sukhothai period to the present day, with insignia, decorations and medals can be seen here.

Other interesting rooms include Barami Pok Klao Room, Evolution of the Army Room, Military document Search Room and Lecture Hall.

This museum was founded as a memorial to Prof. Silpa Bhirasri, who is known as the "father of modern art in Thailand" The building is on the left of the Fine Arts Dept., in the same area as Silpakorn University, where he lived, worked, and taught. He also designed the building.

Prof. Corrado Feroci was born in Florence, Italy and travelled to work as a sculptor at the Fine Arts Dept. in the reign of King Rama VI. He was appointed to teach sculpture at the Royal Academy's Fine Arts section and was later made principal of the Artisan's section of the Fine Arts School. Luang Vichit-Vadakan helped him to become a naturalised Thai citizen when Italy surrendered to the Allies in World War II, and gave him the Thai name Silpa Bhirasri.

In 1943 the Fine Arts School was upgraded to university status and given the name Silpakorn University. He was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Sculpture, and his work included building Royal monuments and many important large-scale works.

The interior of the building maintains the atmosphere of the time when Prof. Silpa worked there, with contemporary paintings and sculptures as well as implements used by artists and sculptors. The works of artists who were among his first pupils are also displayed here. They include National Artists and famous modern painters such as Fua Haripitak, Khien Yimsiri and Sawat Tantisuk etc.

Kasetsart University focuses its teachirl on agriculture, science and nature. Because so many samples and specimens are needed for teaching) and research, several museums have to accommo?date these samples.

Agriculture Museum : (2nd fl., Exhibition Bldg, behind the Office of Agricultural Museum and, Culture). Containing traditional equipment used in, agriculture and the making of agricultural products,) ! such as an ancient sugar cane press.

Veterinary Museum: (Pathology Bldg.). A col?lection of animal skeletons, abnormally developed! animals, animal organs, etc.

Fishery Museum: (ground fl., Department Ofl Fishery). A collection of skeletons of fish species, shells, fishing equipment and stuffed marine animals.

Entomology Museum: (2nd fl., Charas Soon-I thornsingha Bldg.). A collection of many inse species.

Office of Agricultural Museum and Cultur: Providing information relating to the developme of agriculture and culture. The office also hold exhibitions on the development of agriculture and its relationship to Thai society, emphasising Thai traditional wisdom and basic technologies. Other museums in the university include Rattanakosin Bicentennial Museum of Nature Study, Archive Hall, Anthropology Park, Traditiona Textile Museum, and Museum of Zoology.

The first bank in Thailand was opened by the British in 1868. After this, Thailand's financial and b -eking systems evolved along internationally recognised forms. Financial documents from the period are thus extremely valuable for the history o' Thai banking

Part 1. Evolution of Currency: This starts with p historic items of barter and ancient media o exchange, showing how currency developed alongside the accumulation and storage of goods, and the exchange of different currencies until the in roduction of modern banking systems.

Part 2 Evolution of Banks: The need for fi ancial institutions led to the adoption of the bankking system. This shows start with foreign bank operations in Thailand, and the evolution of the c( entry's first bank, known as the "Book Club".

Part 3 Start of Banking: The success of the B ok Club led to the foundation of other banks, and tF re are some fascinating historical documents frorm this era. Part 4 Siam Commercial Bank to the Present D : The rise of one of Thailand's leading banks and how it became an international institution.

Thailand is an agricultural country with many famous plants as export commodities, while other! plants are overlooked as being not commercial plants.

That is one reason Science and Technology Research Institute of Thailand set up a Genebank in 1984, with support from International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, IBPGR, to protect genetic resources, as a location to exchange plant strains and as an information service, and to develop strains, and support research into agriculture and biotechnology. Sells, stores and exchanges samples for interested people.

Storage Methods: Two kinds: Permanent , which will sprout after 50 years, and functional, which will still sprout after 5 years. After recording details, cleaning and testing sprouting and moisture in the lab, they are vacuum packed in tins, and put in cold storage, being tested for sprouting every year1' At present, the Bank contains seeds of overt 50 families and over 200 varieties in 4,000 samples, packed in aluminium cans and envelopes

Royal decorations to be worn on court dress or niform were introduced in the reign of King Rat a IV In 1857, the king ordered medals to be struck to show the status of persons of rank.

The decorations of monarchs were referred to as Royal Decorations of High Rank, while those of the nobility were known as Important Marks of Rank. The term "Royal Decorations" came into use in the reign of King Rama V.

Museum of Royal Thai Decorations: On the grc Ind floor of the museum is a collection of the decorations of various orders arranged in order of rank and displayed on models together with their Citations.

Royal Gazette Room: On the northern side of le building, Royal gazettes, seals and documents relating to Thai constitutional law can be seen.

History of Thai Cabinet Room: This is at the SOL 'lern end of the building and it contains historic articles related to Thai cabinets past and present she ving the origins of the Cabinet and Cabinet ore rs issued by several governments.

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