[1] Located in Nandawon Ward, Nyaungshwe, Shan State, Myanmar, the museum is known for its collection of royal costumes.

The museum is housed in the former palace of Sao Shwe Thaik, known as the Nyaungshwe Haw (ညောင်ရွှေဟော်, Shan: ႁေႃယွင်ႁူၺ်ႈ) in Burmese.

[2] The local ruler of Yawnghwe State, Saw Maung, built the Nyaungshwe Haw in 1913, after the old palace was destroyed during a fire in 1908.

[1][2] In 1962, Ne Win staged the 1962 Burmese coup d'état and arrested Sao Shwe Thaik, who died in prison that November.

In 1972, the palace was nationalised by the Burmese government and subsequently opened to the public as the Museum of Shan Chieftains.