The Udon Thani Museum was established in the Rajinuthit Building, an old structure from the reign of King Rama VI, located on Pho Sri Road near Wat Phothisomphon. The building was first constructed in 1920 under the initiative of Phraya Srisuriyarachaworanuwat, the Governor of Udon Monthon, along with his wife, government officials, merchants, and local citizens. It was intended to serve as the school building for Naree Uppatham School, and was completed in 1925.

Later, King Rama VI graciously bestowed the new name “Rajinuthit”, which has been used for the building ever since. Throughout the years, Rajinuthit Building has served several purposes: the Women’s Cultural Promotion Office (1930), the Regional Education Development Office (1960), and the Office of the Education District 9 and the Udon Thani Provincial Cultural Office (1973). In 2004, the Udon Thani Municipality was assigned to oversee its preservation.

The two-story brick and mortar building features Western architectural style — a hipped roof, arched windows, and a projecting front portico. It was later renovated into the Udon Thani Museum, exhibiting the history, archaeology, natural science, geology, local history, and cultural heritage of the province, as well as the royal biography and accomplishments of Prince Prachaksinlapakhom, the founder of Udon Thani.

The museum consists of two floors with six rooms each, as follows:

Ground Floor

• Information and Service Room
  Friendly male and female staff welcome visitors and provide detailed explanations of each section with genuine hospitality and enthusiasm.

• Natural Science and Geology Room
  Displays soil, rocks, water, minerals, forests, and other natural resources found in Udon Thani, along with local fossils and geological specimens.

• History and Archaeology Room
  Exhibits archaeological and historical findings from various periods:

  • Prehistoric Era (Ban Chiang Civilization): Excavated human skeletons, pottery, bronze ornaments, and iron tools such as knives, axes, and spears.

  • Historical Era (Phu Phra Bat Historical Park): Artifacts from 1,800–1,200 years ago, including cave paintings, large sandstone sema stones used in religious rituals, and rock carvings of Buddha images.

  • Later Historical Periods: Stone sculptures from Wat Ku Kaew (Lopburi style) and gilded Buddha images discovered in ancient Mon-style stupas across several districts.

• Anthropology and Ethnic Studies Room
  Depicts the traditional lifestyles of Udon Thani’s people from the past to present, including housing styles, tools, bamboo weaving, fishing equipment, and palm-leaf manuscripts. The exhibition also shows the diverse ethnic clothing of Isan Thai, Phu Thai, Tai Phuan, Chinese, and Vietnamese communities still residing in Udon Thani today.

• History and City Development Room
  Displays rare photographs and paintings of Prince Prachaksinlapakhom, the founder of Udon Thani. He established the city in Ban Duea Mak Khaeng, a small but fertile village that gradually developed into a large city due to its rich farmlands and strategic location.

• Contemporary Art and Culture Room
  Showcases traditional and modern cultural expressions of Udon Thani, including reed mat weaving and Isan-style wooden house construction.

Upper Floor

• Royal Biography Room of Prince Prachaksinlapakhom
  Displays the life story, royal duties, and personal belongings of the Prince.

• Thongyai Royal Family Room

• Ancient Photographs Room
  Features vintage photographs of Their Majesties the King and Queen during royal visits to Udon Thani.

• Venerable Monks and Meditation Masters Room
  Presents the biographies and contributions of revered monks and meditation masters from Udon Thani province.

• By Private Car: Drive along Pho Sri Road near the Udon Thani Land Office; parking is available nearby.

• By Public Transport: Taxis and local transport are convenient, as the museum is located in the city center close to major attractions.

• Allocate at least 2–3 hours to explore all sections thoroughly.

• The Rajinuthit Building itself is architecturally beautiful — perfect for photography both inside and outside.

Admission Fee

• Free of charge

Opening Hours

• Open Tuesday – Sunday, from 09:00 to 15:30 hrs (closed for lunch between 12:00 – 13:00 on certain days)

• Closed on Mondays, public holidays, and other days designated by the Udon Thani Municipality