Founded in 1952, the five-storey museum has an extensive collection of ancient artifacts, ornaments, work of art, inscriptions and historic memorabilia, related to history, culture and civilization of Burmese people.

[1] The main attraction of the museum is the only surviving original Lion Throne of the Burmese monarchs.

The National Museum of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar was first opened in June, 1952 at the Jubilee Hall Building on Shwedagon Pagoda Road, Yangon.

[8] In order to meet international standards of skills training and development for staff in museums to protect, safeguard and share the country's unique cultural heritage, the National Museum has also cooperated with the British Council Burma[9] and the Collections Trust, a London-based charity.

Among other activities, training courses were organized to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to increase the growth and sustainability of galleries and museums in Myanmar.