[Photo from bandungtourism.com]

Geology Museum is located at Jalan Diponegoro, near Gedung Sate. In the museum, you can obtain various information related to geology and see some interesting collections, such as the skull (fossil) of first human being in the world, the skeleton fossils of prehistoric animals, 156 kg meteorite that fell on March 30, 1884 at Jatipelangon, Madiun. As a historic monument, this museum is considered a national heritage and is protected by government regulations. It stores and manages abundant geological materials, such as fossils, rocks, and minerals gathered during the fieldwork in Indonesia since 1850.

DUTCH COLONIAL PERIOD

The existence of Geology Museum is closely related to the history of geological and mining in the archipelago, which began in the mid-17th century by geologists of Europe. After the industrial revolution in Europe in the mid-18th century, they were in desperate need of mining as an industrial raw material. The Dutch government realizes the importance of mineral tenure in the archipelago. With the development of the industry is expected to be supported in the Netherlands. Then formed Dienst van het Mijnwezen in 1850. Institutional changed its name so Dienst van den Mijnbouw in 1922, in charge of investigating the geology and mineral resources. The results of the investigation in the form of samples of rocks, minerals, fossils, reports and maps need a place for analysis and storage, so that in 1928 Dienst van den Mijnbouw Rembrandt Straat building in Bandung. The building was originally named Geologisch Laboratory, who then called Geologisch Museum. Geologisch Laboratory building is designed in Art Deco style by architect Ir. Menalda van Schouwenburg, and built over the past 11 months with 300 workers and spent 400 Gulden, from mid-1928 until the inauguration on May 16, 1929. The inauguration coincided with the implementation of the Pacific Science Congress 4th (Fourth Pacific Science Congress) in London on 18-24 May 1929.

THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN

As a result of the defeat of Dutch troops from Japanese forces during World War II, where Dienst van den Mijnbouw ends. Lt.. H. Ter Poorten (Commander of the Allied Forces in the East Indies) on behalf of the Dutch colonial government handed over power to Lt. territorial Indonesia. H. Imamura (Commander of the Japanese Army) in 1942. The delivery was done in Kalijati, Subang. With the entry of Japanese troops to Indonesia, Building Laboratory Geologisch moved its staff and was named KOGYO ZIMUSHO and a year later renamed CHISHITSU CHOSACHO.

During the Japanese occupation, the Japanese forces to educate and train the youth of Indonesia to be: MAP (Defenders of the Homeland) and HEIHO (auxiliaries Japanese Army in World War II). Report of the activities of the day not much found, as many documents (including reports on the investigation) were burned when the Japanese troops suffered defeat everywhere in early 1945.

THE INDEPENDENCE

After Indonesia became independent in 1945, under the management of the Museum of Geology Mining and Geology Djawatan Center (PDTG/1945-1950.) On 19 September 1945, the allied forces led by the United States and Britain are diboncengi by the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) arrived at Indonesia (Tanjungpriuk landed in Jakarta). In London they tried to take back the office PDTG already controlled by Indonesian officials. The pressure exerted by the Dutch troops forced PDTG office moved to Jl. No. Braga. 3 and no. 8 Bandung on December 12, 1945. PDTG office move apparently motivated also by the death of a driver named Sakiman in order to strive to maintain PDTG office. At that time, the Army of the Republic of Indonesia established Section Division III Siliwangi Mine, the energy taken from PDTG. Once on Rembrandt Straat office vacated by employees PDTG, Dutch troops were in place that set up another office called Geologische Dienst. Everywhere there is fighting, then from December 1945 to December 1949, during the 4-year-displaced terlunta PDTG office moved from one place to another. The Indonesian government tried to save the document - Geological research document and should move to move from Bandung - Tasikmalaya - Solo - Magelang - Yogyakarta, new in 1950 Th back to Bandung.

In effort to save the document - the document, on 7 May 1949, the Chief of the Bureau CENTRAL MINE AND GEOLOGY, Arie Frederik Lasut, was kidnapped and killed by the Dutch and fall as a nation in the village of Pakem Kusuma Yogyakarta.

Upon his return to London, the Museum of Geology began to receive attention from the government of Indonesia, as evidenced in 1960 by the Geological Museum dikunjung first President of Indonesia, Ir. Sukarno. Management Geological Museum which had been under Djawatan CENTRAL MINE AND GEOLOGY (PDTG) renamed: Djawatan Mining of the Republic of Indonesia (1950-1952), Djawatan Geology (1952-1956), Center Djawatan Geology (1956-1957), Djawatan Geology (1957-1963), Directorate of Geology (1963-1978), Geological Research and Development Centre (1978-2005), Geological Survey Center from late 2005 until now.

Along with the changing times, in 1999 the Museum of Geology received assistance from the Japanese government worth 754.5 million yen to be renovated. After being closed for a year, the Geological Museum re-opened and the opening was inaugurated on August 20, 2000 by the Vice President at that time Mrs. Megawati was accompanied by the Minister of Mines and Energy Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

With this new arrangement demonstration Geology Museum is divided into 3 chambers which include Life History, Geology and Geological Indonesia for Human Life. As for documentation collection provided a means of storage of the collection is supposed adequate sample collections management at the Geological Museum more accessible by both researchers and industry groups. From 2002 through the Museum of Geology and Mineral Resources Decree No. 1725 of 2002 the status of a Technical Unit within the Museum of Geology and Mineral Resources Research and Development. Beginning in late 2005 under the Geology Museum Geology Agency in conjunction with the establishment of the Geological existing Echelon Unit within the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. To perform the duties and functions properly Geological Museum was formed two sections and sub sections: Section 1 and Section Demonstration and Documentation Section of Business Management. To further optimize its role as an institution to popularize the science of geology, Geological Museum also organizes activities such as lectures, exhibitions, seminars and field survey activities for the development of demonstration and documentation collection.

Address: Jalan Diponegoro, near Gedung Sate