National Museum of History, Taipei

Editor's Note: In July 2018 the museum was closed for renovations and is planned to reopen by December 2023.

The National Museum of History is situated within the Nanhai Academy in Taipei's Zhongzheng District. It holds the distinction of being the first museum established in Taiwan after the Republic of China government relocated to the island.

Originally, in 1955, it was known as the "National Museum of Historical Artifacts and Fine Arts" and was housed in a Japanese-style building near the Taipei Botanical Garden. In 1956, it underwent a name change to the "National Museum of History" and underwent a transformation of its building into a five-story structure, designed in the traditional Chinese Ming and Qing palace style.

Despite its spatial limitations, the National Museum of History has gained recognition for its international exhibitions, as well as its proactive and innovative approach to museum development and educational programs. Over the years, the building has undergone several modifications to modernize its facilities and meet the evolving requirements of exhibitions.

The museum's original collection consisted of artifacts from the Henan Museum, which were relocated to Taiwan in 1949, along with relics acquired from the Japanese following the Sino-Japanese War. It was officially named the National Museum of History in 1949, and the Chinese calligraphy title inscription was created by the renowned scholar Yu Youren.

The collection encompasses a wide range of items, including bronzes excavated from Xinzheng, Hui, and Anyang in Henan Province, Pre-Qin pottery unearthed in Luoyang, Han green-glazed pottery, figurines from the Six Dynasties depicting dancers and musicians, Tang tri-colored pottery, and more. Over time, the museum's collection has grown substantially through allocated artifacts and donations from private collectors, enriching both its exhibits and archives.