Thai Museum Day

Adopted 16 May 1995. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by an European country. In fact, in the Thai language, the name of the country is Prathet Thai which means “land of the free.” Bangkok National Museum is the first National Museum in Thailand, established in 1859 to exhibit and showcase Thailand History, Art history, Archaeology and Ethnology. Thai Museum Day is celebrated on September 19 to commemorate the foundation anniversary of the Bangkok National Museum. The Bangkok National Museum (opened 19 September 1874) is the main branch museum of the National Museums in Thailand and also one of the largest museums in Southeast Asia.