Bali Museum is an ethnographic and historical museum at Denpasar Bali. It collects the ancient prehistoric and historic things belong to Bali Island. This museum was established to reserve the antiques andoriginal cultural objects of Bali from the modern life influences. Itis situated in the center of Denpasar at Jl. Letkol Wisnu. The museum area is surrounded by things that clearly describes Bali cultures such as the Catur Muka (a statue of a god with four faces) and Puputan Badung (a courtyard named Badung) in front of the museum, as well as a magnificent temple Jagatnatha built on the north side of the museum.

Bali Museum was built with a great purpose to take care of, reserve and maintain the Balinese culture heritage. It started from a great concern to the culture erosion that could make disappear the cultural heritage. The builders didn’t want to see that the cultural objects and antiques of Bali just remained in photographs and documents. Then the museum was established to keep the important things.

The History of Bali Museum

Bali Museum was built in a great plan and long process;

• The first plan for Bali Museum establishment was made in 1910. The original concept of the building structure was made in the combination of Keraton (palace) and temple building style. The plan was made by Dutch’s governmental functionaries, the King of Bali, Society Prominent, artists including WFJ Kroon, a Germany architect named Curt Grundler, the king of Karangasem (I Gusti Bagus Jelantik), the king of Buleleng (I Gusti Ketut Rai), the Bestuder Penegara Badung (I Gusti Alit Ngurah), the king of Tabanan, and also the Bali artists I Gusti Ketut Rai and I Gusti Ketut Kandel.
• Once the building structure concept was agreed by all of the important people, the building process was started and finished in 1925. The long process of building was caused by the longtime of object collecting. For the incomplete objects of the museum collections, the museum was firstly opened for public after 7 years (1925-1932). The experts that worked in checking the collections for Bali Museum were DR. W.F Strutterheim, GM Hendriks, GI Graider, DR. R. Goris, and also an artist named Walter Spies.
• The management of Bali Museum was firstly handled by Bali Museum Institution and they officially opened for the first time in 8 December 1932. Then in 5 January 1966, the management was reverted to the Indonesian Government.

One of Must Visit Sights in Bali

When you visit Bali, Bali Museum should be one of the sights to visit so you will know Bali much more. Find the collections of prehistoric objects in this museum, such the Sarkopag (grave petrify), and also the history objects such as the Stupika Clay that was made with superstitious formula called Ye Te, the Hindu and Buddha statues made from bronze. Besides, you can also see the ethnographic objects of Bali such as Keris, traditional clothes called Endek, and the equipment used in religious ceremonials like Cecepan, Sangku, and a mask called Sidakarya. To know Bali even more, you should visit Bali Museum as one of your destinations on trip to Bali.