Inside

Act 1 - The River of Life

At the lowland of the Chao Phaya River, a number of unprecedented events in Siam took place, leaving a lively memory on the land of "Paknam".

Act 2 - A Memorable Heroic Deed

The first amazing, heroic event of Paknam took place in 1578 in the Ayuthaya Period when King Naraesuan the Great took a Krab Kanya barge, Bravely chasing and firing at Phraya Cheen Chantu who was on another barge in Paknam. The brave act of King Naraesuan urged the Thai people to stand confident. And later he managed to declear independence to the Kingdom of Siam.

Act 3 - Samutprakan, a Frontage Town

During the reign of Phra Cho Song Tham, the old phra pradaeng town in the Lawo Period could no more serve as a frontage town, Samutprakan was therefore established as a stronger frontage town, the first strongest frontage town in Siam.

Act 4 - The First Thai Flag

In the reign of King Narai the Great, foreign trade became more active. A number of French cargo boats heading to Siam passed Paknam, and the first Siamese flag was invented and flew the first time in Paknam.

Act 5 - Struggling for Independence Once Again

Towards the end of the Ayuthaya Period, the King of Angwa led an army to invade Siam which later lost her independence once again. Major cities were burnt. A group of Buddhists took three respected Buddha images to a raft floating along the river. Paknam villagers grasped one Buddha image, Luang Po To and place it at Wat Bang phli yai. Samutprakan could not escape from the battle. Enemies invaded Samutprakan and forced the local people to leave the city, leaving it as a deserted town. Temples became quiet as a cemetery. The remaining villagers joined the naval force of King Taksin the Great.

Act 6 - Fighting for Life

Toward the 12th month of 1767, King Taksin's fleet of gunboats attacked the enemies at Boh Sam Ton via the estuary of the Chao Phaya River, Paknam, and declared independence to Siam once again. Samutprakan people took pride in the victrory and independence in which they played a key role.

Act 7 - The Living Chedi

From then, Samutprakan Town became peaceful until the Rattanakosin Period. During the reign of King Phra Puttha Lert La Naphalai, (Rama II), he established a new town, "Nakhon Kuan Khan" and a new frontage town for Samutprahan at Bang Chao Phraya. Later King Phra Nang Klao (Rama III) had Phra Samut chedi built in the middle of the Chao Phaya River and it was renovated in the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV). During this period, Buddha relics were placed in the Chedi For people to pay homage. The floating chedi in the center/heart of the Chao Phaya River also stayed in the heart of the Thei people.

Act 8 - Lightning at the Phra Chul Fort

Samutprakan gave birth to Thailand's communication in 1875 with the laying of the first telegraph cable from Bangkok to Samutprakan, a distance of 45 kilometres, for navigational communication. Later the communication system was developed and the first telephone set was introduced in 1891. The first railway was built and completed in 1893 at Samutprakan railway station in the reign of King Chulalongkorn the Great, Rama V

During that reign, King Chulalongkorn had the first modern fort built in Samutprakan and name it "Chula Chomklao Fort". At this fort, a great heroic event still in the memory of every Samutprakan citizen took place in 1893 when France and Thailand had a dispute, France had their gunboats close the estuary of the Chao Phaya River, and battle erupted there. A cannon from Chula Chomklao Fort was shot to extensively damage the French gunboats. leading to a ceasefire between Thailand and France and negotiation on the intergity and liberty of Thai people.

After that incident King Chulalongkorn started developing and reinforcing the Thai navy's might, establishing Naval Academy. One of his sons, his Royal Highness Admiral Kromluang Chumphon Khet Udomsak, had devoted his life to the naval development and was later name, "Father of the Royal Thai Navy".

Act 9 - Greatful to Their Majestics

Samutprakan Town became peaceful once again. In 1946 King Mongkut Klao, Rama VI upgraded Samutprakan Town to Samutprakan Province. Paknam people and the Thai navy had a great opportunity to welcome His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX returning to Thailand on a royal barge with Ms. Sirikit Kitiyakorn or Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand on March 24, 1950.

This land at the estuary of the Chao Phaya River has a record of Thailand's historical, amazing events from the past until today..............