[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.