Elephant Museum Indonesia

National Museum of the Republic of Indonesia is the site of the Dutch heritage that still exists and stands firmly until now in the city of Jakarta (Batavia). Beginning of the establishment of this building is when the Dutch government established an association of intellectuals and institutions that exist in the Dutch scientist by the name Bataviaasch Batavia Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen 24 April 1778 on dates M. The institute aims to promote research in the field of arts and sciences-particularly in the fields of history, archeology, ethnography, and publish the findings in the areas concerned. To support the activities of the institution, the Dutch Government to build a library to .accommodate a collection of books and cultural objects that were donated by the founders and members

The increasing number of collections, a new building was constructed. New building is named Literary Society. Literary Society, used by the Dutch government as a place to accommodate and care for the collection of books and objects of archaeological findings, and also used as a library. But slowly, precisely in the year 1862 AD, the Dutch government finally set up another new building that not only functions as a library or office, but also as a museum to care for and exhibit collections that exists. This new building, which is the forerunner to the National Museum of the Republic of Indonesia.

After Indonesian independence, precisely on February 29, 1950, the Dutch heritage of the building was later turned into the function of the Cultural Institute of Indonesia (Indonesian Culture Council). These institutions do not survive long. Since September 17, 1962, the Government of Indonesia took over the management of the institution and make it as the Museum Center. Based on the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture No.0092/0/1979, on May 28, 1979, the museum's name was officially transferred from the Central Museum of the National Museum of the Republic of Indonesia.

Although officially named the National Museum of the Republic of Indonesia, but this museum by the general public better known as the Elephant Museum. This is because in this museum there is a statue made of bronze elephant in his front yard. This elephant statue, reputedly, is the King of Siam (Thailand) in March 1871 AD In addition, the museum is also often referred to as the Museum Arca, because in it there are various types and forms of statues / sculptures from different periods in the history of the archipelago.

National Museum of the Republic of Indonesia have a building representative and comfortable. The museum consists of two building units, namely the National Museum Building (Unit A) and Arca Building (Unit B), which was built since 1996. For the old building (Unit A), the arrangement of the exhibition is based on the types of collections, both based on the scientific, material, or regionalism, such as Space prehistory, the Bronze Room, and others. While the arrangement in Building Arca (Unit B), no longer based on the type of collection, but leads to a theme based on the cultural aspects which are divided into four floors. The first floor is themed humans and the environment, science and technology-themed second floor, third floor themed social organizations and settlement patterns, while the fourth floor of themed treasures of gold and ceramics. The entire arrangement is summarized in the theme "Cultural diversity in unity".


Feature

National Museum of the Republic of Indonesia has a collection of historic objects very much, which is about 109 342 units in 2001. In the year 2006 the number of collections have exceeded 140 000 units. Nevertheless, only a third of that could be exhibited to the public. Until now, the year 2008, the number of museum collections has reached 141 899 units. Because such a large number of collections, the museum is noted as the largest museum in Indonesia and even in Southeast Asia.

Tourists who visit this museum can see the collection of heritage objects from the entire archipelago, including statues, inscriptions, sculptures, artifacts, traditional weapons, traditional art tools, and many others are classified in seven groups, namely a collection of prehistoric, archaeological, ceramic, numismatic (related to currency) and heraldry (associated with the royal emblem), history, ethnography, and geography. These collections can be seen in nine different rooms, namely: Ethnographic Space, Space Bronze, Pre-History Room, Pottery Room, Room Textiles, Room Numismatic & heraldry, Historical Relics Room, Stone Sculpture Space, and Space Khazanah.

In these rooms guests can select and view museum collections in accordance with the interests and preferences. For example, for visitors who wanted to see the collection of historic objects made of gold and precious relics of the rocks of the kingdoms that ever existed in the archipelago, can enter the stakes in the Gold Room. Gold Khazanah space is divided into two rooms, namely Space Space Archaeology and Ethnography. In this room visitors can see the fruit of more than 200 historic objects made of gold and silver. Especially in the Ethnographic Space are objects made from 14-24 karat gold and decorated with many precious stones. The objects in this room, according to history, many are discovered accidentally, is not found through archaeological excavation. As for the end of which has other interests can reach spaces that have been divided according to the classifications that space.

In general, this museum has a large collection of cultural objects and prehistoric objects from all over the archipelago, as well as the civilization heritage objects other nations, such as Southeast Asia and Europe. Sources in the museum's collection came from archaeological excavations, grants collector, and purchase.

Location

National Museum of the Republic of Indonesia is located on Independence Square to the west, precisely located at Jalan Merdeka Barat No.12, Central Jakarta, Jakarta Province, Indonesia.
D. Access

The museum is located in the heart of Jakarta. Access to visiting this museum is not too difficult. From the Blok M area, visitors can use the bus to the city Transjakarta, then get off at Stop the National Monument (Monas). After that, because this museum is situated opposite the bus stop, visitors can walk toward the location.