The National Museum of Taiwan History preserves Taiwan's historical and cultural memories. It includes more than 100,000 items, many of which were donated by the public.
The museum also has a strong research element. Much effort is put into the planning of the exhibits, which address both historical and contemporary issues. It tells the story of Taiwan from many cross-ethnic perspectives. It's designed to meet the diverse needs of all visitors.
The first floor contains a children's hall and a "time machine" educational area. Children can learn about Taiwan's history and culture through interactive experiences incorporating clothing styles, sound, architecture, mountains, forests, plains, and oceans. The second floor is home to a permanent exhibition. It tells the story of the encounters of Taiwan's ethnic groups over time. Four areas for special exhibits are contained on the first and fourth floors. These exhibits change from time to time, and explore diverse aspects of Taiwan's history. The fourth floor is also home to a virtual reality area that provides for immersive time/space experiences.
The museum is located on land that 400 years ago was a large bay called the "Taijiang Inner Sea." In this historically significant location, the mission of telling Taiwan's story continues. The museum is surrounded by the 20-hectare "Taiwan History Park," which has been filled with native Taiwanese species, and also includes objects of art and ancient trees. Beautiful lake views and trails provide a wonderful leisure space within which visitors can better understand Taiwan's ecology. The "Cloud Wall" is one of the museum's several architectural elements. It presents an image of a blue sky as well as the idea of "crossing the sea." The Water Stage harkens back to early days when early arrivers to Taiwan had an image of its sand banks. The museum's red stone walls and other elements reflect Taiwan's history as well as the diversity of Taiwan's ethnic cultures that have integrated within this land.