Ancient Siam
เมืองโบราณ | |
A view of the Ancient City in Samut Prakan Province, a privately operated open-air museum showcasing Thai architecture and artistic heritage from various historical periods. | |
| Established | 11 February 1972 |
|---|---|
| Location | Bangpoo, Samut Prakan, Thailand |
| Coordinates | 13°32′21.498″N 100°37′22.515″E / 13.53930500°N 100.62292083°E |
| Type | Outdoor history museum |
| Founder | Lek Viriyaphan and Praphai Viriyahphan |
| Website | www |
Ancient Siam (also known as Ancient City; Thai: เมืองโบราณ, RTGS: Mueang Boran) is a museum park featuring replicas of famous Siamese sites. It was constructed by Lek Viriyaphan and occupies over 200 acres (0.81 km2) in the shape of Thailand.
Ancient Siam is often dubbed the world's largest outdoor museum, although it is smaller than Inhotim in Brazil. Located near the Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm in Samut Prakan province, the 320-hectare park features 116 structures representing Thailand's famous monuments and architectural landmarks. The layout of Ancient Siam roughly follows the geographic shape of the kingdom, with monuments positioned in their corresponding real-world locations. Some structures are life-size replicas of existing or former sites, while others are scaled-down versions. Still others are creative designs rather than replicas of any specific historical structure.
The replicas were constructed with the assistance of experts from the National Museum to ensure historical accuracy. Notable reconstructions include the former Grand Palace of Ayutthaya (destroyed during the Burmese invasion of 1767), Phimai Sanctuary in Nakhon Ratchasima, and Phra Viharn on the Cambodian border.