Museum of National Awakening


Museum Kebangkitan Nasional or "Museum of National Awakening" is a history museum in Jakarta, Indonesia. The museum is dedicated for the history of Indonesian National Awakening.

History

The building

The building of the museum was constructed from 1899 to 1901. In March 1902, the building was officially opened under the name of STOVIA, the colonial medicine school for the Javanese and other native people. Students were obliged to live in the dorm until the completion of the 10 years study.
In 1920, because of the increasing number of students, studies were conducted in a new building. The building was then used as a MULO school, AMS and school for pharmacist assistants.
During the Japanese occupation, the building was used by the Japanese to contain the Dutch war prisoners. After the independence of Indonesia, the building was used as temporary residences for the KNIL and their families.

The museum

Due to the building relation with the birth of Budi Utomo on May 20, 1908, whose day are officially Day of National Awakening since 1948, the building was restored by the government of Jakarta on April 1973. The building was officially made a heritage building by then President Suharto on May 20, 1974 under the name of Gedung Kebangkitan Nasional. The previous occupants were moved to Cengkareng area.
The building was initially made into four museums: Budi Utomo Museum, Museum of Women, Museum of Pers, and Museum of Health and Medicine. On February 7, 1984, the four museums were converged into the Museum of National Awakening.

Collection

The building collects 2,042 items related to the Indonesian National Awakening including original furniture of the school building, medical equipment, medical costumes, weapons, photographs, paintings, sculptures, dioramas, miniatures, sketches and maps.
The museum is divided into four-themed exhibition rooms: "Room of Early Revolution", "Room of National Awareness", "Room of Revolution" and "Memorial Room to Boedi Oetomo".