Originallly this old edifice, built in 1918, was used as the City Hall. The plot of land was donated to His Royal Highneess Prince Sabasiddhiprasong by the heirs of Prince Rachaputtra (Sui) for publice purpose. It has been used as a public building since the reign of King Ramsa VI.          This one-storeyed, rectangular structure is built ofrick with the ground slighty heightened and north orientation. The walls are cement surfaced and hip roof iscovered with hard tiles. At the middle of this edificeconsisted of a large hall with a corridor along sides and small rooms are all along this corridor. Magnificent sawndesigns representing fliwers and leaves are used todecorate on the top frames of doors and pillars supporting the protruding roof.          As the city has grown, this building became too small to housed all the government officals. In 1968, a new City Hall was built at the west of Thung Sri Muang esplande. In 1983, Mr.Boonchauai Srisarakham, the Governor at that time, decided to present the old City Hall building to the Fine Arts Departmeknt for restoration in the view of opening Ubon Ratchathani National Museum. This museum includes expositions on geography, geology, history, archaeology, folkloric customs and ecthnogy of Ubon Ratchathani proince and neighboring arese. These are Didplayed in ten exposition galleries.          The Fine Arts Department invited Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn to preside over the inauguration cermony of Ubon Ratchathani National Museum on 30th June 1989. Ubon Ratchatani : The City of Splendid Lotus          Ubon Ratchatani is the easternmost province of the southern part of northeast region, Thailand. This region embraces plains and three important rivers which are the Chi, the Mun and the Mekhong rivers. Furthermore, many tributaies, large and small water recervoirs make these vasr expanses into fertility land and this area was suitable living places since ancient times. The traces of human-being in Ubon Ratchatani province date back to about ten thousand years ago. Prehistoric tools were discovered at Ta Lao cave. Civilization graduallu flourished, then communities became larger. People learn how to make earthenware from baked clay, tools and utensils from metals and ornaments from stone and glass, Arty-crafty creations involved popular believes and rites of the ancient society.          Since the 7th century A.D., the scattered communitied in the vasr plateau gradually evolved and entered into the historic era. Records were made by means of alphabets. Ideolatry and religious places of worship emerged. Social life became more intricate as successive civilizations infolded.           Dvaravait Culture (7th-11th centuries A.D.,) had its sanctuary in the Chao Phraya flood plain. The remains of this period involved religious belives, for example, Buddha images, Sema (stone boundary) etc. These artifacts are found in the northern part of the province.          Pre-Angkor (or Chenla) civilization (7th-9th centuries A.D.) was based on the Brahman, The evidences of this period are scluptures, architecture and inscription were discovered near the Mun river's mouth.