More Than 2.1 Million Visits, KAI Heritage Museums Offer Educational Tourism Experiences

Museums are more than places where historical objects are kept. Behind every collection lies a story about Indonesia’s journey, offering visitors both a travel experience and an opportunity to learn. This is reflected in the strong public interest in KAI’s heritage destinations. From 2024 through August 2026, Lawang Sewu Museum and Ambarawa Railway Museum recorded a combined total of 2,127,125 visits.

Of this figure, Lawang Sewu Museum in Semarang welcomed 1,636,638 visitors, while Ambarawa Railway Museum recorded 490,487 visits. These numbers demonstrate the continued appeal of railway heritage and highlight the potential of museums as educational tourism destinations for families and younger generations.

KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba explained that railway history is closely connected to the lives of Indonesian people. Its development has been intertwined with the growth of cities, economic activities, technological advances, and significant events in the nation's history. Museums, therefore, are expected to make history more accessible and engaging for children, families, and younger generations.

KAI manages four railway museums, each offering its own historical stories and characteristics. In Semarang, Lawang Sewu Museum was formerly the administrative headquarters of the Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS), which began operating in 1907. Today, the historic building houses collections, documentation, and information on the development of Indonesia’s railway system.

Further east, Ambarawa Railway Museum showcases steam locomotives, historic trains, and railway technology used in mountainous areas. The museum occupies the former Willem I Station, which opened on May 21, 1873, and is closely associated with the Kedungjati–Ambarawa railway line.

Meanwhile, Bondowoso Railway Museum in East Java preserves the history of the Gerbong Maut incident. In West Sumatra, Sawahlunto Railway Museum highlights the history of railways and coal mining, which forms part of the UNESCO-listed Ombilin heritage, including the E1060 steam locomotive, also known as Mak Itam.

Beyond its museums, KAI manages 656 heritage assets that have been designated as cultural heritage sites or are currently undergoing the designation process. These assets include stations, buildings, structures, and historic railway equipment. Some notable examples are Jakarta Kota, Bandung, Semarang Tawang, and Yogyakarta stations, as well as bridges, tunnels, railway workshops, depots, and historic locomotives.

One important chapter in railway development can also be explored along the Kedungjati–Tuntang–Ambarawa route. The line is connected to the early development of railway networks in Central Java and holds potential for further development as a railway heritage tourism destination.

As part of its efforts to introduce this heritage to the public, KAI will hold the Rail Heritage Forum 2026 on November 9, 2026, at Lawang Sewu Museum in Semarang. Carrying the theme 1867 & Beyond: Preserving the Past, Shaping the Future, the forum will provide a platform for discussions on historical preservation, the utilization of heritage assets, and the development of railway educational tourism. The year 1867 marks the beginning of operations on the Semarang–Tanggung railway line on August 10, 1867.

Through its management of museums and historic assets, KAI invites the public to discover not only the long history of Indonesia’s railways but also the educational experiences they offer. Visiting a railway heritage museum can be a meaningful family activity, allowing visitors to explore history through preserved buildings, collections, and stories.
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