On Oct. 10, the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Artifacts Museum, located in the heart of Taipei, formally opened its doors to the general public. It is the perfect place for all those who have an interest in the ROC to spend a quiet afternoon in search of the past.
History buffs will know that the opening date of the museum is full of historic significance: on the same day in 1911, a band of intrepid revolutionaries overthrew the Ching dynasty and the reign of emperors over millennia. Out of this revolt the first democratic republic in Asia was born Jan. 1, 1912.
Now, as the ROC approaches its 100th birthday, one event after another is being rolled out in celebration of the nation’s centennial. The new museum, too, is in honor of the occasion.
The very building that houses the museum is steeped in history. Completed in 1924, the baroque-style structure is the work of Japanese architect Matsunosuke Moriyama (1869-1949), who also designed the Presidential Office.
Until recently, the building was used by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. In 2004, upon the passage of the Act Governing the Administration of Presidential and Vice-Presidential Artifacts, Academia Historica was commissioned to convert the building into a museum and assemble historical documents, photographs, memorabilia and other items of interest.
“To open this museum, we collected iconic items from families of former national heads and transferred artifacts from the Presidential Office, the National Palace Museum and the National Museum of Taiwan History,” said AH President Lin Man-houng.
Lin said it was necessary to step up efforts to develop a presidential museum, noting that the United States has had Presidential Libraries since 1941. “Such a museum is especially important for a country ruled by its people.”
Located directly behind the Presidential Office, the museum greets visitors on the right-hand side of the first floor with a small living room. It displays a copy of a traditional Chinese painting by Chiang Ching-kuo, the nation’s president from 1978 until his death in 1988. Beneath the painting are rattan chairs similar to those used by former Vice President Chen Cheng to receive his guests.
Further on the right is a reading room that stores a variety of digital resources, hundreds of books related to the presidency and more than 1,000 publications issued by AH.
On the left side sits a gift shop called “Madame’s Boutique.” Named in honor of Madame Chiang Kai-shek, the boutique sells a line of souvenirs, including Barbie dolls with the features of several former first ladies.
In the center of the lobby is a stairway leading to the second floor. “In decorating the space along the stairs, we decided to go with red, white and blue, the same colors as the national flag,” Lin explained.
Several exhibition areas lie on the second floor, each of them having a different theme.
There is the Presidential Oath-taking quarter, for instance, lined with chairs facing a dais. Here would-be presidents can take the solemn presidential oath in front of their seated honored guests.
“This experience allows our visitors to get a real taste of what it feels like to attend an inauguration ceremony,” Lin explained.
Mock-ups of state seals are also on display in the same vicinity. “The two seals, each weighing more than three kilograms, symbolize a president’s heavy responsibilities toward the nation,” she said, adding that visitors are welcome to touch and lift up the weighty seals.
Other artifacts include the different flags used during various periods in ROC history.
The adjacent Presidential Election Room introduces visitors to the two methods that have been used to elect presidents in the course of ROC history: indirect and direct elections.
After the constitution was implemented Dec. 25, 1947, the right to elect presidents was vested solely in the hands of the National Assembly.
This system was in place until 1996, when constitutional reforms resulted in the nation’s first direct presidential election.
On top of the briefing history of presidential elections, the room also displays ballot papers, election certificates, electoral gazettes and other election-related material.
Next comes a game room. To pass through its various doors, visitors must first answer multiple-choice questions on topics related to direct presidential elections. If the wrong answer is given, the doors will simply refuse to open. “This is a great opportunity for civil education,” Lin said.
The adjacent room is the Presidents and the Constitution Hall. As its name suggests, the area describes the constitution in detail, including such minutiae as the seven revisions to the constitution over the last few decades.
On the right-hand side of the second floor is the Gifts to the President Room—a must-see section. Items given by ROC diplomatic allies, foreign countries, world-renowned figures and overseas Chinese are categorized by origin under five continents—Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
Each exhibition area is adorned with its distinctive regional features. For instance, in the middle of the America area a pyramid is found symbolizing the ancient Maya civilization, while an outrigger canoe from the Marshall Islands has been placed in the Oceania exhibition room, the canoe a reflection of the importance of seafaring to the region.
“In displaying various kinds of foreign presents, we also hope to inspire our nation’s handicraft artists to produce more innovative designs,” said Lin.
“The main themes of each exhibition room will remain unchanged, but exhibits inside them will be altered periodically,” she said. “We still have thousands of artifacts waiting to be revealed to the public.”
Other open areas on the second floor encompass an interactive area where visitors can play games while learning history and a section where individuals can record their own oral or written history.
Meanwhile, in coordination with the ROC centennial, AH said it has made a list of the 100 most influential figures in the country’s history. The public is welcome to cast votes for their favorites among these 100 at the museum or through the Internet.
Open 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, the museum has a free-admission policy that will be in effect until the end of 2011, Lin said.
Lin also noted that by the end of the year the museum will unveil one more exhibition area called Presidents and History. “Once the building is fully renovated next year, we will also open the fourth floor to the public.”
“An exhibition in commemoration of Taiwan-U.S. relations over the past 60 years is set to take place next August,” said Lin. Other organizers are welcome to host events relating to presidents or national history at the museum, she added.
For many years now the Presidential Office and the Taipei Guest House, both located near the museum, have been very popular tourist destinations. With its splendid offerings, the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Artifacts Museum seems destined to join their ranks. (HZW)
Write to Elaine Hou at elainehou@mail.gio.gov.tw