History of Museum

The first museum was nothing but a bamboo house with few rooms which housed few relics, antiques and curios related to the opium trade.

Museum House in year 2005 on the left

The house of opium was first open to the public in 1990 with the help from Mr. Inthawat Seanamngeon and Mrs. Piangduen Paveenawat to educate the visitors with the history of opium and its trade in The Golden Triangle. The first museum was nothing but a bamboo house with few rooms which housed few relics, antiques and curios related to the opium trade. With a mediocre admission fee of 5 baht/person the museum struggled but yet survived. In 1992 the bamboo house was replaced with a concrete structure and the admission fees were raised to 10 baht/person to support more addition of the relics and curios. The museum also started exhibiting paintings and other antiques and pieces of cultural and historical importance. The museum also brought in more partners, Dr. Tawatchai Boonchote, Mr. Preecha Ratchawong, Narongdej Sudjai, who helped and participated in developing the museum into both commercial and educational site.

Museum in year 1990

By 1997-98 the museum was an established site and entertained more and more visitors. The site was enlarged with more exhibitions and the admission fees were raised to baht 20/person.

Museum in year 1997

Currently the museum has its own premises with two stories air conditioned building. It has got more facilities and is thrice the time of the previous museum. It is more convenient for the visitors and is rich with authentic relics, antiques and curios. The museum is dedicated and constantly doing more and more research to provide the visitors with the most relative and authentic information on the relics, antiques and curios.