National Taiwan Museum

National Taiwan Museum
國立臺灣博物館

Museum Front
Established 24 October 1908
Location Zhongzheng, Taipei, Taiwan
Type National history museum
Curator Chen Chiming (陳濟民)
Website ntm.gov.tw (English)

The National Taiwan Museum (NTM; Chinese: 國立台灣博物館; pinyin: Guólì Táiwān Bówùguǎn), established in 1908, is the oldest museum in Taiwan. It was founded by the colonial government during Taiwan's period of Japanese rule. The museum is located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei.

History

National Taiwan Museum circa 1957–1959

Established in 1908, the museum is the oldest in Taiwan. The colonial government of Japan set up the Taiwan Governor Museum on October 24, 1908, to commemorate the inauguration of the North-South Railway. The museum had a collection of over 10,000 items in its initial stages. In 1915, the new building of the museum in Taipei New Park was inaugurated and became one of the major public buildings during Japanese rule.

Under the Nationalist-rule government, the Department of Education of the Taiwan Provincial Government took over the administration of the museum in 1949 and renamed it "Taiwan Provincial Museum" until 1999.[1]The museum underwent two major renovations in 1961 and 1994 respectively. Since 1999, the museum has been administered by the Central Government and renamed "National Taiwan Museum." Throughout the years of war and political transition and after twice being renamed, it stands as the only museum established during the colonial years, which is still in operation on its original site.

For a century, since the Qing dynasty, the museum has been standing in front of the Taipei Main Station, on the north-south and east-west pivotal crossroads of old Taipei. Its elegant architecture, abundant collections and unique geographical position have made the museum an important landmark in Taipei. In 1998, the Ministry of the Interior declared the museum a "National Heritage." The museum has witnessed Taiwan's history and recorded its natural and humanitarian developments. Through this window, one may catch a glimpse of Taiwan's evolution with regard to the fields of earth sciences, humanitarian developments, zoology, and botany.

The museum maintains its original scale, with five departments — anthropology, earth sciences, zoology, botany and education. The collection features specimens of Taiwan's indigenous animals and plants as well as cultural artifacts. Through its regular exhibitions and special exhibitions, publications and various educational programs, the museum is serving the public as an educational establishment.

System of Museums in Capital

"System of Museums in Capital" is a big project started by Council for Cultural Affairs in 2005. It takes National Taiwan Museum as the center and combine nearby historic monuments associated with Japanese rule in Taiwan such as 228 Memorial Park, Presidential Building, and Taipei Guest House. This system has become the best starting point to those who wants to know the history of Taiwan. This project includes:

the Kangyo Bank old building.

The first two were originally used as the head office of the Land Bank of Taiwan (now moved to a new building nearby). The recovery has started on February 8, 2007, and will be completed in May 2008.

The following historical buildings will also be restored and added into the system as museums:

Exhibitions

Transportation

The museum is accessible within walking distance northwest from NTU Hospital Station of the Taipei Metro.

Picture gallery

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Taiwan Museum.

References

  1. ↑ History, National Taiwan Museum.

External links

Coordinates: 25°02′34″N 121°30′54″E / 25.04275369637105°N 121.51503772096355°E / 25.04275369637105; 121.51503772096355

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