The Town of Lopburi             Lopburi is a province in Central Thailand where historical, archaeological, and cultural evidence has been discovered that prehistoric humans lived here about 3,500 - 4,000 years ago. Later, it was influenced by the art and culture of India in the 11th to 12th centuries B.E. as it entered into the historical era. This first period under the influence of Indian culture was called the Dvaravati Period. Since that time, Lopburi has been ruled by the Khmer, coming under the influence of their art and culture, in the 15th to 16th centuries B.E., called the Lopburi Period. Eventually, when the Ayuthaya empire was established, Lopburi became a "Meung Luk Luang", a city ruled by a prince, and was a border town to the north of Ayuthaya. When King Narai the Great ruled Ayuthaya, he had a palace built in Lopburi, and each year spent most of his time there. Lopburi thus served as a second capital, next to Ayuthaya. After the time of King Narai the Great, Lopburi decreased in importance, until King Mongkut (Rama IV) had it restored to be used as an inland royal city. Later, in about 2480 to 2500 B.E., Prime Minister Marshal P. Piboolsongkhram developed Lopburi to be a national military center. The improvements he made to city are apparent even to the present day. Phra Narai Rajanivet (King Narai's Palace)             Phra Narai Rajanivet was built by King Narai, the king who ruled Ayuthaya from 2199 to 2231 B.E. He had the palace built in the town of Lopburi in 2209 B.E. on 41 rai of land to be a place for relazation, hunting, administering the country's affairs, and welcoming official visitors. The king would stay in Lopburi almost all year round, returning to Ayuthaya only in the rainy season. When he died in 2231 B.E., Lopburi was abandoned until King Mongkut of Bangkok (Rama IV) ordered the restoration of Narai's palace. He built a new throne hall for his stay in 2399 B.E. and named the palace "Phra Narai Rajanivet." In the time of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). Phiman Mongkut Pavilion, which had been King Mongkut's accommodations, was given to the government to use as a provincial hall. On 11 October 2467 B.E., Prince Damrongrajanuphab and Prince Narisaranuwatiwongsa opened the Chantarapisarn pavilion in King Narai's palace as a museum, calling it the "Lopburi Museum." Later, in 2504 B.E., the name of the museum was changed to "Somdet Phra Narai National Museum." To present, the museum has exhibited more than 1,864 items of the collection of ancient artifacts in different pavilions and buildings of the palace.