National Museum

History of Manila takes one back before the Christian era and the archeologists date it around 500 B.C. The ancient history of Manila can be well understood from the displays at the National Museum in Manila. Thus the Filipino culture is old and has been influenced by other cultures in history. In the 16th century the Spanish conquistadors made Philippines their colony for three centuries. In between the British and later the U.S also made Philippine their colony. Manila got its name from maynilad that means, there is nilad (nilad- a white flowered mangrove plant).

The Manila National Museum was established in 1901 as a natural history museum and then later housed in the present building. An American architect Daniel Burnham designed the museum building in 1918. National Museum in Manila is a repository of past of the country. The National Museum wants to foster cultural consciousness and a sense of national pride.

The National Museum in Manila is also known as the Museum of the Filipino Peoples.The holdings are divided into National Museum that is housed in the Old Congress Building of the Philippines and the National Museum of the Filipino and is housed in the former Finance Building. One would find in the museum many archaeological exhibits of the Philippine prehistory that includes the skull of 'Tabon Man'- the oldest human remains in the archipelago. The Museum of the Filipino hosts preserved timbers and the treasures of the San Diego that sank in the Philippine waters in 1600.

The National Museum has broadened its horizons and has now imbibed into its fold arts and science. The three near by buildings have been added on to the museum. In the National Museum the displays also include the porcelain plates, coins, jewelry and armaments all throw open the past before the viewers. The other attraction includes the Story of the Filipino People that is a must see for all the visitors.

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