The National Museum of Myanmar (Yangon), (), located in Dagon, Yangon, is the major one of the two national museums for Burmese art, history and culture in Myanmar. Founded in 1952, the five-storey museum has an extensive collection of ancient artifacts, ornaments, work of art, inscriptions and historic memorabilia, related to history, culture and civilization of Burmese people. The main attraction of the museum is the only surviving original Lion Throne of the Burmese monarchs. There are more than 4000 permanent objects in the museum. Public museums in Myanmar are administered by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture and can be classified as national museums, archaeological museums, regional cultural museums, and memorial museums. Furthermore, other kinds of museum are appearing under other ministries, like the Defense Services Museum in the capital Naypyidaw, or in the private sector. The museum is open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, except on Mondays and public holidays. History The National Museum of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar was first opened in June, 1952 at the Jubilee Hall Building on Shwedagon Pagoda Road, Yangon. The museum was moved to a larger location at 24/26 Pansodan Street in 1970, and to its present location in 1996. The new five story National Museum has been open to the public since 18 September 1996. Galleries The museum's collections are displayed over the following 14 galleries or halls. Burmese culture The Burmese Epigraphy and Calligraphy hall on the ground floor contains exhibits on the origins and development of Burmese script/alphabet throughout history, as well as exhibits on other ancient and ethnic scripts. In the Hall of Culture exhibits on Burmese rural life are displayed, covering social, economic and cultural traditions and modes of transport. Examples include a traditional Burmese bullock cart, still in use in many parts of the country, an offering bowl for monks, gilded and wrought with mosaics of semi-precious stones, and personal ornaments and jewelry worn by Burmese people since ancient times. The Hall of Arts covers the progress of Burmese art, beginning with the cave paintings of the Stone Age to the Bagan, Innwa, Taungoo, Konbaung and Yadanabon periods and up to contemporary art. Here, works of famous artists are on display and temporary exhibitions are held. In the Hall of Performing Arts, there are many musical instruments and an ornate saingwaing (traditional Burmese orchestra), as well as Burmese marionettes used in