Bogyoke Museum

The museum’s full name is Bogyoke Aung San Museum, although it is often shortened to simply the Bogyoke Museum.  It can be found within the Bahan area of Yangon.  It is one of the city’s listed Heritage Sites.

The museum is to honour and remember the late General Aung San, who worked tirelessly towards achieving independence and trying to have democracy in Burma, and who also founded the modern day country of Burma.  Aung San was assassinated in 1947, and Bogyoke Museum was the last place that he lived before he was killed.  It is also the place where his famous daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi soent her childhood and formative years. 

The Memory of a Hero

The beautiful building was built in the early 1920s it is a colonial style mansion.  It contains a large number of exhibits and displays dedicated to the life of Aung San.  It is kept as it would have been during the time that he lived there and you can see a large number of his personal possessions as you learn more about this past great leader.  Items include books, photos, clothes, and Aung San’s car.  There are diplays on both levels of the house.  On the ground floor you can wander through the dining room, living room, and lounge.  The upper floor is where you will find his bedroom, the children’s bedrooms, a meeting room, and a library / office.  
The grounds are just as interesting, and you can look at a statue cast in bronze of the late general performing some gardening.  You will also see the ill-fated swimming pool where one of his children sadly drowned. 

Visiting Guide

Founded in1962, it was not until 2012 that the museum was available for many tourists.  It is now open on Tuesdays through to Sundays between the hours of 9am and 5pm.  It is closed on public holidays.  Previously it was only possible to visit the museum for three hours of every year!   Visitors will be charged a small entrance fee.  It is a great place to get more of a feel for the history of Burma as well as learning more about this prominent figure in the country’s past.