Taipei has numerous museums devoted to a specific industry or profession, introducing to visitors the professional culture and stories of each, and at the same time providing an in-depth educational experience.
Our Precious Maritime Culture – the Evergreen Maritime Museum
This museum was launched by Evergreen Group founder Chang Yungfa (张荣发), building on a collection brought together over the course of more than 20 years that includes valuable maritime artifacts, paintings, and navigation equipment from decommissioned Evergreen vessels, giving visitors a portal into the mysteries of maritime culture.
The museum is spread over five floors. Entering the first-floor hall, visitors are greeted with a display of large-scale model boats, including a model of China's first mechanically powered steamboat and a copy of the resplendent Thai royal barge presented to Chang by the King of Thailand. You'll also see the only true authentic craft in the museum: an ancient craft from Arabia, and one of the famed oceangoing canoes intricately assembled without a single nail by the indigenous people of Taiwan's Orchid Island (兰屿).
Next, take the elevator to the 5th floor and the History of Ships section (世界船舶区). Here the development of vessels from ancient times to the 19th century is presented, with model displays of primitive rafts, small wooden boats, sailing craft, and engine-powered vessels. In the Modern Ships section (现代轮船区) on the 4th floor, enjoy a systematic display of engine-powered ships widely used in the 20th century, including ocean liners, modern cargo ships, and warships.
In the Marine Paintings gallery (海洋画作区) on the 3rd floor, take in a variety of depictions of ships, war scenes, the vast oceans, and works on other themes. Finally the Navigation and Exploration section (航海探索区) on the 2nd floor gives visitors a first-hand sense of the science of navigation via a wide-ranging collection of navigation equipment, with games and interactive multimedia installations which are especially popular with kids.
Stock Culture Evolution – the Taiwan Stock Museum
If all the physical (paper) stocks printed in Taiwan between 1989 and 2011 were to be piled on top of each other, they would tower 44 times higher than Taipei 101 (台北101). At the end of July 2011 Taiwan switched to non-physical (electronic) stocks, the 13th of the world's 25 leading large capitalization markets to do so. However to preserve precious physical negotiable securities, in December 2012 the Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation (TDCC; 台湾集中保管结算所) established the Taiwan Stock Museum (台湾股票博物馆), where visitors can learn about the history of Taiwan stocks.
There are five exhibit halls: Introduction, Inception, Continuation, Transformation, and Incorporation (序、启、承、转、合). In the Introduction Hall (序厅) stock issuance, trading, and stockholder equity are all explained. Next is the Inception Hall (启厅), with displays on the origin of stocks and the first stocks printed in Taiwan and other countries around the globe, all rare and extremely valuable.
The Continuation Hall (承厅) introduces Taiwan stock certificates and the stock issues with the greatest impact, exploring past economic and stock development. The Transformation Hall (转厅) is an interactive theater where multimedia helps visitors understand the importance of central security depository services. Finally, in the Incorporation Hall (合厅), visitors can take a virtual tour of the TDCC's vault. A Chinese - or English-speaking guide is available if booked in advance.
Medical Humanities History - the Museum of Medical Humanities
National Taiwan University's Museum of Medical Humanities (台大医学人文博物馆) is located in the Taipei Imperial University Department of Medicine building, built under Japanese rule. The building was declared an official city heritage site in 1998, and its name was changed to the Museum of Medical Humanities in 2008.
The National Taiwan University College of Medicine (台大医学院) has preserved many of the historical relics connected with the development of Taiwan's medical sciences. The museum's nine exhibition rooms are all open free of charge to the public. The first room houses an irregular schedule of special exhibits; until September 30th you can take in the Special Exhibit on Sexual Dysfunction Research (性功能障碍研究成果特展). There are permanent exhibits in the second through seventh rooms, with displays on the introduction of Western medicine, the college's research on snake venom, depictions of medical treatment on postage stamps, evolution and humans, and other subjects related to the medical humanities. The eighth and ninth rooms explore the development of modern healthcare in Taiwan and present a health blueprint for an aging society. The easy-to-understand displays help visitors to quickly grasp the sometimes esoteric medical knowledge.
The historic building is itself an attraction. From the outside there are the French Mansard-style roof and bull's-eye windows. Inside, the entrance hall and corridors are in classic arcade style, making the building a favorite site for wedding photos.