The National Museum of History, founded in 1955 in a Chinese palace-style building on the edge of the Botanical Garden, was the first public museum established in Taiwan after the war. Its collection runs to ancient bronzes, Tang-dynasty ceramics, jade and oracle bones — much of it brought over from Henan — plus a strong holding of Chinese and Taiwanese painting and calligraphy.
Smaller and quieter than the National Palace Museum, it makes an easy pairing with the lotus pond next door. Reopened in 2024 after a long renovation.