Phuket Mining Museum

The Phuket Mining Museum in Kathu village offers a detailed and well-presented account of the tin-mining industry that shaped Phuket's history, economy, and cultural identity from the 17th century through to the 20th century. The museum uses life-size dioramas, artefacts, and photography to illustrate the conditions in which Chinese and Thai miners worked, the techniques used to extract alluvial tin, and the social structures of the mining settlements that eventually grew into modern Phuket Town. Kathu itself was the heart of the original mining operation, and the community's Chinese Hokkien heritage is directly traceable to the labourers brought in during the tin boom. The museum is particularly engaging for visitors with an interest in industrial or social history. Admission is approximately 100 Baht, and it is easily combined with a visit to the nearby Kathu Shrine and Cultural Museum.