Museum Kebon Pasinaon Living Museum is a living museum located in Dusun Glagah, Sirahan Village, Salam District, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. This unique museum presents interactive and immersive cultural experiences that go beyond traditional exhibits to offer visitors a chance to learn by participating in daily village life and traditional practices.
Unlike conventional museums that display static objects, this living museum allows visitors to engage in real activities such as traditional farming, herbal medicine preparation, poetry writing (geg uritan), and various village customs still practiced today.
Type and Management Museum
Museum Kebon Pasinaon Living Museum is classified as a specialized museum focusing on living culture and experiential education. Its thematic emphasis is on preserving and showcasing traditional ways of life, community heritage, and everyday cultural practices that reflect the rich identity of rural Javanese society.
As a living museum, this institution differs from typical museums by presenting culture as lived experience, not merely as preserved objects behind glass. Visitors can touch, taste, and participate in activities that bring the past and present together.
The museum is owned by Dra. Ida Fitri Lusiana (Yayasan Kebon Pasinaon Living Museum) and managed by Gian Giartha, who oversees daily operations, educational programming, and community engagement.
Management works closely with the local community from Dusun Glagah, involving them as cultural guides and active contributors to the museum experience. This collaborative model ensures that the living traditions remain vibrant and relevant for visitors.
History of the Museum
The origins of Museum Kebon Pasinaon Living Museum trace back to a literacy and learning space initiated in Dusun Glagah. The name Kebon Pasinaon comes from the Javanese phrase meaning “garden of learning,” reflecting its roots as a center for community education and creative activity.
Although the area suffered devastating damage from Merapi’s cold lava floods in 2011, the resilience of its founders and community led to a renewed focus on cultural preservation. The concept evolved into a living museum that opened to the public as a place where cultural history and daily life are experienced firsthand.
Vision of the Museum
The vision of Museum Kebon Pasinaon Living Museum is to be a Tourism Culture Centrum of Experiential Learning in Indonesia, serving as a benchmark for living museums and cultural institutions nationwide, and providing a platform for cultural practitioners and tourism enthusiasts from around the world.
Mission of the Museum
To realize this vision, the museum pursues several key missions:
- Introduce, preserve, and develop the cultural diversity of the archipelago, particularly traditional village life.
- Enhance tourism through cultural programs that engage and educate.
- Strengthen national identity and love of the archipelago through immersive cultural experiences.
- Develop the potential of local communities, cultural practitioners, and heritage preservers.
Role in Education and Tourism
Museum Kebon Pasinaon Living Museum plays a Vital role in cultural education and tourism by providing real-life insights into village traditions and practices. Visitors can experience rural lifestyles, environmental stewardship, traditional healing practices, and participatory cultural activities.
As one of Central Java’s first living museums, it attracts tourists seeking authentic cultural experiences and educational engagement in a natural setting.
