Nakhon Phanom Governor's Residence Museum (Old Building)

The Nakhon Phanom Governor's Residence Museum (Old Building) is located on Sunthon Wijit Road, Nai Mueang Subdistrict. It was originally the private property of Phra Phanom Khanurak (Ui Nakhonthop), the first governor of Nakhon Phanom Province, built between 1912-1914 by Vietnamese craftsmen. It is a two-story Western-style plastered brick building, influenced by French architectural styles during the Indochina War. The roof is tiled with Thai tiles, the lower floor is paved with cement tiles, and the upper floor is made of wooden planks. Both the upper and lower floors have no pillars and not a single nail was used; the structure is held together using the joinery techniques of ancient wisdom. Later, this building served as the residence for subsequent governors of Nakhon Phanom Province. On November 12-13, 1955, the province designated this building as a temporary royal residence for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit during their royal visit to the northeastern region. Currently, the Fine Arts Department has registered this building as an ancient monument. It has been renovated into a museum to learn about the important historical stories of the people of Nakhon Phanom. It features an exhibition titled "Storytelling Pictures" of Nakhon Phanom's past, including many famous photographs such as the image of an elderly woman, Mae Thao Tum Chanthannit, offering lotus flowers to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej during his royal visit to Nakhon Phanom Province in 1955. At that time, Mae Thao Tum was 102 years old. Out of loyalty, she came to wait for the royal arrival early in the morning, and the lotus flowers she intended to offer withered due to the strong afternoon sun. Additionally, behind the Governor's Residence, there are two rows of traditional houses displaying stories about the "Rai Ruea Fai" (lighted boat procession) and the traditional cooking methods of the local people in the past. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday and on public holidays (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Songkran). Opening hours are from 09:00 to 17:00. Admission fees are: Thai adults 20 Baht, children 10 Baht; Foreign adults 50 Baht, children 20 Baht. For inquiries, please call 0 4251 1574, 08 5586 5803.