National Museum of the Philippines
The National Museum of the Philippines, established in 1910 as an ethnography and natural history museum, remains the premier repository of the country’s natural and cultural heritage. Among the many displays, the galleries devoted to the San Diego galleon merit special mention. Porcelain plates, coins, jewelry, armaments and other artifacts recovered from the sunken battleship present revelatory glimpses of seventeenth century life. The Story of the Filipino People is also an important attraction for visitors. The American architect Daniel Burnham designed the present building (formerly the Congress Building), which houses the arts, natural sciences and other support divisions. It stands adjacent to the National Museum of the Filipino People (formerly the Finance Building), which houses the Anthropology and Archaeology Divisions.
