A Walk to The Past

A special posting for my English Academic Class in Library and Information Science :)

Remember the history lesson in elementary school? I felt like brought back to the school grade a few days ago, of course with saw directly the objects called in the history book. It happened in Museum Nasional, which also known as the museum ‘Gedung Gajah’, one of many museums in Jakarta City. Its location in Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat no. 12, Centre Jakarta.

Museum Nasional must be visited, besides this location is nearby with other recreation center like Monas, Istiqlal Mosque, etc., cheap entry ticket (only Rp 5000 for adult), and also because of the superb collections. For example, the oldest Yupa inscription from Kutai Kingdom, kitchen rubbish (kjokenmoddinger) from megaliticum era, or the wine glass property of VOC, that all be presented in Museum Nasional and (the most important) original! Well, before I continue my story, here is the following history about the founded of Museum Nasional. I got this information from the brocure when I visited.

The exixtence of the Museum Nasional began with the establishment of Bataviaach Genootschap voor Kunsten en Weternschappen, which founded by the Dutch Government on 24 April 1778. During at the time, revolution of enlightenment happened in Europe when the people developed the knowledge and science. In 1752, founded De Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen (Dutch Scientific Society) in Haarlem, Dutch. This society planned to open a branch in Batavia (now Jakarta), and was received well there by the people with the same scientific orientation.

On 24 April 1778, a private institution was founded, it named Bataaviasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen (BG). Their motto was “Ten Nutte van het Algemeen” (for the benefit of all). One of the founder, JCM Radermacher, donated his house in Jalan Kalibesar, a trade distric in Jakarta-Kota. He also donated some usefull collections of culture stuff, artefacts, and books which became the initial collection of the museum and library.

During the England administration in Java (1811-1816), Governor Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles became the Director of BG. Due to the growth of the collections, the house in Kalibesar couldn’t accommodate all the object anymore. Therefore, Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles ordered to established a new building as museum and meeting hall for the Literary Society (previously called ‘Society de Harmonie’). This build located on Jalan Majapahit no. 3. Presently, this is the location of Govermental Secretariat (Gedung Sekretariat Negara), nearby the Presidential Palace (Istana Negara). In a word, this new build became too small for the BGs’ collections which steadily grew. Finally, in 1862 Dutch Government decided to build a new museum, and we know as Museum Nasional in Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat no.12.

I visited Museum Nasional on 24 October 2013 at 13.00 pm. It can reach by Commuter Line from Universitas Indonesia station and stop at the Juanda Station, then take a Bajaj to Museum Nasional location. Firstly we greeted by the bronze elephant statue in front of museum. For your information, this staue was a gift from King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Thailand, who visited the museum in 1871.

Museum nasional has two building. Old building (Gedung A) used to collection exhibition and storage room, and new building (Gedung Arca/ Gedung B) right besides old building used for the exhibition room (1^st to 4^th floor) and for the office, conference, laboratory, library, etc. Almost all of the collections in Old Building is original, while the collections in New Building are assortment both original and otentic collections.

Unfortunately, when I visited the Museum Nasional, the Old Building was closed. I didn’t consider the theft collection case a few times ago was the cause of this closing. I tried to contact the museum officer in 7^th floor, hopefully could enter the Old Building, but the officer said that the closing of Old Buliding held by the Police. So that, he couldn’t helping more.

Eventually, I walked around the New Building. It was not bad, the bulding was very nice, clean, and fresh. The object here is arranged thematically, so the collection isn’t well-organized by the times. The 1^st floor is Replica of Prehistoric Times. It load otentic replica collection of ancient human skull, such a complete Sangiran 17 skull (Homo Erectus tipical) and prehistorical burial in Gilimanuk accompanied by favorite things.

The 2^nd floor is Technology & Economic Science, Literacy & Language. In this floor we will see the otentic and original collection of inscription. The example of otentic collection is Ciaruteun inscription and scale model of Javanese traditional house. And the original collection such a Talang Tuo and Kota Kapur inscription of Sriwijaya Kingdom, Yupa inscription, King Mulawarman inscription, Palapa inscription of Majapahit Kingdom, the Old World Globe from Dutch colonial period, traditional and classical weapon, the old bell from dutchman ship, even the Far-Earth travel map belongs Cornelis de Houtman.

The 3^rd floor is Social Organization & Settlement Pattern. This floor load the household things, like wardrobe, dining table, antique glasses, bronze nekara (kettledrum), moko (small kettledrum), bracelets, Princess Banyuwangi crown, earrings, necklaces, water klkl, plates, and Indonesia traditional  cloth  (songket, batik, weaving affairs Kalimantan).

Unfortunally, again, the 4^th floor was closed because some of repaired. In other side, the information sticker beside the collection sometimes incomplete, eventually there’s nothing information sticker. And the inter-face computer in the room collectin is turn off, that really distinguise consider  the visitor need communicative information there. In general, Museum Nasional gives a special experience by the strength of its’ collection, I really feel like through the time trail.