If you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, or simply curious about Javanese culture, these 9 great Java museums are must-visit destinations that will enrich your journey through the island. Java is home to a rich cultural heritage, and one of the best ways to explore its history is by visiting its fascinating museums. From ancient artifacts and royal heritage to colonial history and modern art, the island offers a diverse range of unique museums that provide deep insights into Indonesia’s past and present.
1. National Museum of Indonesia
The National Museum of Indonesia is a museum that focuses on archaeology, history, ethnology and geography. Located on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, the museum stands majestically to the west of Merdeka Square. Better known as Gedung Gajah, the name comes from the elephant statue placed at the front of the museum. The National Museum’s collections come from various parts of Indonesia and have high historical value. For more than two centuries, the museum has contributed to the preservation of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.
As one of the largest and most comprehensive museums in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, the National Museum holds around 141,000 collections from various fields, including prehistoric artifacts, archaeology, numismatics, ceramics, ethnography, history and geography. In addition, the museum also has a collection of classical sculptures from the Hindu-Buddhist era in Java and Sumatra, as well as valuable ceramic collections from across Asia. With its diverse collections, the National Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone who wants to explore Indonesian history and culture.
2. Ullen Sentalu Museum
Ullen Sentalu Museum is a private museum dedicated to introducing the culture of the Mataram nobles. Located on Boyong Street, Kaliurang, Pakem Sub-district, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, the museum presents a variety of collections that depict the life of nobles during the Islamic Mataram Kingdom. In addition, Ullen Sentalu Museum also displays the history and culture of the four major kingdoms in Java, namely Surakarta Sunanate, Yogyakarta Sultanate, Mangkunegaran Praja, and Pakualaman Duchy.
3. Angkut Museum
Museum Angkut is a museum that displays a variety of transportation collections from various countries, so it is often referred to as a transportation museum. The museum is managed by Jatim Park Group and was officially opened in 2014. With an area of 3.8 hectares, Angkut Museum offers various rides divided into several thematic zones. The museum has around 300 collections of vehicles from various parts of the world, making it an attractive destination for automotive and transportation history lovers. The unique concept makes Angkut Museum the first transportation museum in Asia, which is not only educational but also entertaining. Museum Angkut is located at Jl. Terusan Sultan Agung No.2, Ngaglik, Kec. Batu, Batu City, East Java.
4. Bank Indonesia Museum
Museum Bank Indonesia is a museum that holds various interesting stories about the world of banking in Indonesia. In addition to being an educational center, the museum also offers an interactive experience for visitors with a variety of interesting and effective information media. Museum Bank Indonesia was officially opened on December 15, 2006 and is located in West Jakarta. The history of this museum begins with the Bank Indonesia City building, which previously had different functions. The building was once used as a church before being restored in 1628. Then, in 1828, the Dutch colonial government rebuilt the building and made it the office of De Javasche Bank. After Indonesia’s independence, the building was converted into the Bank Indonesia City office in 1953. The Bank Indonesia Museum building consists of two floors and was designed by architect Ed. Cuypers. The architectural style carries the Neo-Classical concept with vine ornaments typical of local designs, resembling decorations often found on temple buildings. Before finally functioning as a museum, the building was designated as a cultural heritage in 1993, marking the importance of the historical value contained within.
5. Geology Museum
Bandung Geological Museum is one of the oldest museums in Indonesia, located on Jl. Diponegoro, Bandung Wetan. The museum is a popular destination for visitors who want to see ancient fossils and various collections related to geology – the study of the earth. The existence of this museum is closely related to the history of geological research in Indonesia, which began in the 1850s. At that time, the institution that housed it was known as Dienst van het Mijnwezen. The Bandung Geological Museum was officially established on May 16, 1929, with a building that functions as an office, geological laboratory, and museum to store and exhibit geological survey results from various regions in Indonesia.
6. NuArt Sculpture Park Museum
Next best museum to visit is the NuArt Sculpture Park Museum. It is an art gallery owned by I Nyoman Nuarta, a renowned artist who designed the final design of the State Palace building in IKN Nusantara. In addition, Nyoman Nuarta is also known as the creator of several iconic monuments in Indonesia, such as the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue in Bali, the Jalesveva Jayamahe Monument in Surabaya, and the Indonesian Proclamation Monument in Jakarta. As an art space that represents Nyoman Nuarta’s vision and career journey, NuArt Sculpture Park presents a collection of sculptures that reflect the development of his work over time. Visitors can enjoy and capture moments with the various sculptures on display in various corners of the park. The calm and beautiful atmosphere makes the experience even more enjoyable. In addition to being a museum and art gallery, NuArt Sculpture Park is also equipped with various supporting facilities, such as an audio visual room, amphitheater, and sculpture garden. Some of these facilities are often used as creative spaces for other artists to work and hold art performances, making this place a dynamic and inspiring art appreciation center.
7. Pandhapa Art Space
Pendhapa Art Space is an alternative art space in Yogyakarta that provides facilities for artists and communities to engage in cultural and artistic activities. It is a complete art tourism destination, where visitors can live, work, watch art performances, enjoy painting and sculpture exhibitions, and discuss directly with Indonesian artists. Pendhapa Art Space, often referred to as PAS, was originally an extension of Studio Satiaji Sculpture & Artwork owned by Dunadi, a renowned sculptor. The studio specializes in the production of three-dimensional artworks. The construction of PAS began gradually in 2006 and was designed directly by Dunadi. Initially, this place was named Pendopo Sapto Aji and functioned as a multipurpose building. In 2011, Pendopo Sapto Aji was opened to the public, then developed into an art space in 2013. In 2015, PAS initiated an independent art program called STARTUP. A year later, in 2016, Pendhapa Art Space was officially registered as an independent business entity engaged in arts and cultural activities. The development of this art space is part of Dunadi’s big vision to create a place dedicated to the art world, both for local and international communities.
8. The Bucketlist Museum
The Bucketlist is an International Standard Museum and Basketball Court located in Bogor, West Java. The museum was inaugurated in December 2020 with the concept of entertainment, education and experience. Having the slogan “All-Star, All In”, The Bucketlist presents three choices of experience, namely education, experience, and entertainment in one place. One of the advantages of this place is a world-class basketball court with Federal Basketball International (FIBA) standardization. When visiting The Bucketlist, visitors can see directly the basketball court area with stands that can accommodate 300 people and there is a coffee shop with 120 benches. There is also The Bucketlist Gallery, an area featuring galleries of national and international players, The Bucketlist Kitchen, a restaurant with a basketball feel, and a shop selling basketball sports equipment. In the museum area, there are around 300 collections ranging from jerseys, shoes, medals, trophies, action figures, and photos of legendary basketball players, from home and abroad.
9. Wayang Museum
Another great Java museums to visit is the Wayang Museum located in Jakarta Capital. The Wayang Museum is a gallery that displays various types and forms of puppets from all over Indonesia, whether made of wood, leather or other materials. In addition to a collection of local puppets, the museum also houses puppets from various countries, such as the People’s Republic of China and Cambodia. Currently, the Wayang Museum has more than 4,000 different wayang collections. Other than puppets, the museum also collects various types of dolls, especially those from Europe. However, there are also dolls from other countries such as Thailand, Suriname, China, Vietnam, India and Colombia. Not only as an exhibition venue, the Wayang Museum also regularly holds puppet shows every second and third week of the month. As a form of recognition of Indonesia’s cultural heritage, on November 7, 2003, the United Nations (UN) designated Indonesian puppets as a world heritage that must be preserved.
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