The Abomey Historical Museum occupies the palaces of King Guézo and King Glèlè within the Royal Palaces complex and is generally considered one of the finest regional museums in West Africa. The collection of over 1,000 objects includes royal thrones, weapons, ceremonial regalia, and the remarkable anthropomorphic statues of the kings — each king had a statue incorporating an animal symbol that stood for his rule.
The museum was established by the French colonial administration in 1943 using objects salvaged from the burning palaces and returned from French collections. Some pieces taken to France by colonial officials in 1892 have since been repatriated, and the collections have grown. The museum is the primary entry point for the palace complex and the best place to understand the history of the Dahomey Kingdom before exploring the surrounding grounds.