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."
