Bangkok Corrections Museum, Prison museum in Phra Nakhon, Thailand
The Bangkok Corrections Museum occupies three preserved blocks of a former maximum security prison, displaying how the Thai penal system evolved over different periods. The rooms include cells, offices, and administrative spaces that give a complete picture of how the prison operated.
The facility opened in 1890 during King Chulalongkorn's era, built after officials studied Singapore's prisons for design ideas. In 1987 the government preserved select structures and converted them into a museum for the public.
The exhibits show how Thailand's approach to justice changed over time, from harsh punishments to rehabilitation programs. The displays reveal what mattered to society when it came to handling prisoners and their place in the system.
The museum sits on Maha Chai Road and opens to visitors on weekdays. You need to remove your shoes when entering certain exhibition blocks, so wearing easy-to-take-off shoes makes the visit more comfortable.
Block 9 preserves the original two-story cells and an execution chamber where inmates had their final meals. These spaces offer a rare look at the harshest parts of the country's prison past.
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