The Royal Elephant National Museum was originally the site of the royal elephant stable built by King Chulalongkorn(Rama V) in the compound of the Dusit Palace to house a white elephant presented to him. Royal status was conferred on this elephant, Phra Savet Udomvarn,in ceremony held in 1906.

In 1911,during the reign of King vajiravudh (Rama VI), another white elephant received royal status - Phra Savet Vajiraphaha. This elephant was also housed in this royal stable, replacing Phra Savet Udomvarn.

King Pok Klao(Rama VII) built an additional stable adjoining the original one for a royal white elephant called Phra Savet Kotchadejdilok, who received his royal rank at a ceremony in 1927.

After the deaths of the latter two elephants, the royal stables remained vacant until 1959, during the reign of King Bhumibol (Rama IX),when new white elephant was presented to the King. The King restored the royal stable originally housing Phra Savet Vajiraphaha,and the new royal elephant, Phra savet Adulyadejphahana,was kept here during his naming ceremony. The new royal elephant was then temporarilly moved to the Dusit Zoo until new stable was completed at Chitrlada Palace in 1966.

The original royal stables at Dusit Palace eventually fell into disrepair.Later,however,it was announced in the Royal Gazette on 28 March 1974 that because of its value as apart of the Thai cultural heritage,the site was to be registered as an ancient monument.The significance of the site lies in its architectural and historical value,as well as in the cultural traditions associated with white elephants.

On 12 January 1988,the ministry of education announced the establishment of The Royal Elephant National Museum on the site of the old royal elephant stables.

Significance of Royal elephants
The term “royal elephant” refers to an elephant that has been registered as the private property of the king. During the Ayutthaya period(15th-18thcenturies),elephants used by the kings in battles were included in this description. “Important elephants” were those with some, but not all, of the characteristics described in court texts relating to royal elephants; royal white elephants, however, had to conform in every particular to be considered “royal white”

During the Bangkok period, use of elephants to wage warfare decreased, but “important” and “royal white’ elephants were still considered significant. Any elephant fitting the description had to be presented to the king and registered as a royal elephant, in keeping with royal tradition. A royal white elephant is considered a gem, given in honor of the king’s prestige. In Thai tradition, there are seven gems, or special attributes, for this purpose: a disc, an elephant, a horse, a knight, a treasurer ,a precious stone,and a consort.