Aceh Museum Began as a Traditional Acehnese House

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Aceh Museum began as a traditional Acehnese house that served as the Aceh Pavilion during the colonial exhibition in Semarang back in 1914. Following the exhibition, this unique structure was relocated to Kutaraja and officially opened to the public as the Atjeh Museum on July 31, 1915.

Located strategically on Jalan Sultan Alaidin Mahmudsyah in Banda Aceh, the museum stands close to prominent city landmarks like the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque. Visitors can easily access the site within 30 minutes from Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport or via short local transit from the city center.

The institution was initially led by F.W. Stammeshaus, a Dutch ethnographer who served as its first curator and spearheaded its initial collection management. Undergoing several administrative transitions after Indonesia's independence, the museum is now officially operated as a regional technical implementation unit under the provincial government.

The main architectural highlight remains the traditional Rumoh Aceh building, which houses diverse historical artifacts and cultural symbols. Within its historic collections, visitors can find renowned items such as the Cakra Donya bell given by the Ming Dynasty to the Samudera Pasai Sultanate.

As of recent data, the museum houses approximately 6,038 cultural objects and maintains a rich library containing over 12,445 book titles. Its extensive collections span archaeological artifacts, ethnographic items, numismatics, philology, and fine arts that illustrate Aceh's deep history.

The facility provides comprehensive visitor amenities including exhibition rooms, educational spaces, rest areas, and a souvenir shop selling local traditional crafts. General admission remains very affordable, welcoming both adult and child visitors daily outside of national holidays.

Today, Aceh Museum continues to thrive as an essential center for cultural preservation, historical research, and public education. By blending its rich heritage with modern visitor services, it successfully bridges Aceh's glorious past with present-day community learning.