Chao Sam Phraya National Museum

Chao Sam Phraya Museum is located on Ayutthaya's city island at Rojana Road opposite Ayutthaya's Rajabhat University. The museum is named after the third son of King Intharacha (r.1409-1424), who, once on the throne as King Borommaracha II (reign 1424-1448 CE), ordered the construction of Wat Racha Bun or the Monastery of Royal Merit (presently called Wat Racha Burana) on the cremation site of his two elder brothers. The museum was designed to display the objects excavated at Wat Racha Burana and Wat Maha That in 1957 and 1958 CE.

HM King Rama IX inaugurated The national museum on 26 Dec 1961 CE. The construction of the Chao Sam Phraya museum was funded by the proceeds from the auction of votive tablets discovered in the crypt of Wat Racha Burana to the public. A sum of 3.416.928 Baht was raised. The museum was the first to present a modern exhibition form and is the most important in the Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya province. The museum features three exhibition buildings.

Ayutthaya Historical Research