The Captain Williamson Sangma State Museum of Shillong is also known as State Museum of Meghalaya lies in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya. It was established in 1975 in the State Central Library Complex. It is named after first Chief Minister of state of Meghalaya – Captain Williamson Ampang Sangma.

It is considered as one of the centre for studies into our history and culture as well as for preserving our rich cultural heritage that is now undergoing tremendous pressure in the face of contacts with various cultures both from the East and the West.

The Captain Williamson Sangma State Museum of Shillong

The Captain Williamson Sangma State Museum is a state run Museum and is managed by Art and Culture Department of Meghalaya State Government. This ethnographic museum offers great insight into the history, lifestyle, culture, customs, and traditions of the three major matrilineal communities of the state of Meghalaya, namely the Khasis, the Jaintia/ Pnars, and the Garos/ Achik. It aims at promoting and preserving the indigenous practices, lifestyle, traditions, and heritage of these communities. The museum is a repository where ethnic tribal handicrafts, rare archaeological objects, plants, animals, and other vestiges of ancient Khasi culture have been preserved and displayed.

The complex has monuments of the great patriots of the state the had been erected besides the statue of Smt. Indira Gandhi and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Artifacts like traditional tools used by our people, traditional musical instruments, and arts & crafts have been acquired in order to enrich the Museum collections. The Museum collections have also been enriched by the acquisition of replicas of Ashoka Pillars and others from the National Museum, New Delhi, and Dinosaurs model from the Geological Survey of India, Kolkatta and Anthropological life size model from Guwahati.

It remains open throughout the year and entry fee is INR 5 per person. Camera and Mobile is on extra cost of INR 10. It’s a must visit place in Shillong for history lovers.