Lhokseumawe City Museum

Origins and Founding Period

The construction of Museum Kota Lhokseumawe was initiated as an effort to preserve historical artifacts scattered across the administrative area of Lhokseumawe after its expansion from North Aceh Regency. Officially, the museum was founded and inaugurated in mid-2014-2015. Its establishment was a response to the community's need for a representative center for local historical studies.

Before the existence of this museum, many historical objects found by the community or inherited from local noble families were neglected or buried within private collections. The Lhokseumawe City Government realized that without an official platform, the visual identity and history of the city would fade with rapid modernization. Therefore, this museum was built with the vision of becoming a "gateway" for anyone wishing to learn about the lineage of civilization on the East-North coast of Aceh.

Architecture: Manifestation of Rumoh Aceh

Visually, Museum Kota Lhokseumawe adopts a highly iconic traditional architectural style, namely Rumoh Aceh (Aceh House). The building structure is a stilt house dominated by selected wood materials, reflecting local wisdom in adapting to the tropical climate.

One of the most striking construction details is the use of numerous support pillars (post-and-beam), which in Acehnese philosophy symbolize the strength of togetherness. The roof is a saddle shape with distinctive carvings on the tulak angin (ventilation) parts, which function as air circulation regulators as well as aesthetic ornaments. The use of a stilt structure is not only for cultural preservation but also provides space underneath (the stilt area) traditionally used for social interaction or storing agricultural tools. The museum's interior is designed with partitions resembling the room divisions in the houses of Aceh nobles in the past, creating an authentic atmosphere for visitors.

Historical Significance and Related Events

The significance of Museum Kota Lhokseumawe lies in its role as a storyteller of the history of the Samudera Pasai Sultanate. Although the royal palace was located in the Geudong area (North Aceh), Lhokseumawe was historically part of the sultanate's core territory. This museum holds fragments of life from the 13th to the 16th centuries, a period when this region was a meeting point for traders from Arabia, India, and China.

One historical event implicitly recorded through its collections is the transition period from Hindu-Buddhist influence to Islam in Aceh. Objects such as ceramics from the Ming Dynasty and ancient plates show how active the diplomatic and international trade relations were, established by the predecessors in Lhokseumawe. Furthermore, the museum also holds collective memories of the Dutch colonial era, when Lhokseumawe became a strategic military and economic port through the existence of the Aceh railway line (Atjeh Tram).

Key Figures and Main Collections

This museum houses various artifacts related to great figures in Acehnese history. Its main collections include replicas of dirhams (gold currency) used during the time of Sultan Malikussaleh and Sultana Nahrasiyah. The existence of this gold currency is irrefutable historical evidence that Lhokseumawe and its surroundings once had a very advanced and independent economic system.

In addition to currency, other flagship collections include traditional weapons such as the Rencong with various types of hilts, sacred swords, and small cannons used in wars against colonial expansion. There are also collections of ancient handwritten manuscripts on parchment or lontar leaves containing Islamic teachings, customary law, and traditional medicine, which demonstrate the high literacy of the Pase people in the past.

Preservation Status and Restoration Efforts

As a relatively young institution, Museum Kota Lhokseumawe continues to undergo development and maintenance efforts. The local government, through the Department of Education and Culture, regularly curates and conserves the collection items to protect them from damage due to humidity and wood pests.

Physical restoration of the building is carried out periodically to maintain the integrity of the Rumoh Aceh's wooden structure. In addition to physical maintenance, preservation efforts are also carried out in the form of digitizing collection data. This is important to ensure that information about each artifact can be accessed by researchers and future generations without having to touch the fragile physical objects. The museum also actively organizes temporary exhibitions and educational activities for students to foster a sense of ownership of their historical heritage.

Cultural and Religious Significance

In a cultural context, Museum Kota Lhokseumawe functions as an educational center for Adat Bak Po Teumeureuhom, Hukom Bak Syiah Kuala (Customary law rests with the government, religious law rests with the ulama). Every object displayed, from traditional wedding attire to traditional musical instruments like the Rapai, contains strong Islamic philosophy.

Religiously, this museum serves as a reminder that Lhokseumawe is part of "Serambi Mekkah" (Mecca's Veranda). The presence of a centuries-old handwritten Al-Qur'an shows how Islam has been the lifeblood of the community since the Sultanate era. This museum affirms Lhokseumawe's identity as a modern city that nevertheless stands firm on the foundation of noble spiritual values and traditions.

Unique Historical Facts

One rarely known unique fact is that some of the museum's collections are direct donations from the descendants of the uleebalang (tribal chiefs/nobles) in Lhokseumawe, who have preserved these items for generations over hundreds of years. Furthermore, the museum's location in an area that was once a colonial administrative center provides a contrasting nuance between the museum's traditional architecture and the European-style buildings around it, creating a visual narrative of the meeting of two civilizations.

Museum Kota Lhokseumawe now stands not just as a tourist attraction, but as the last bastion of the collective memory of the Acehnese people amidst the currents of globalization. It is a silent witness that from the coast of Lhokseumawe, the light of Nusantara's civilization and trade once shone brightest.