The Batavian Society of the Arts and Sciences was established on this site in 1778. Due to its rapid growth, the building was transformed into a museum in 1862. Among its collections are fine ethnographic and pre-historic items, including china, bronze and gold objects, stone sculptures and textiles that provide an excellent overview of ancient Indonesian culture. The elephant statue in the front yard was a gift from King Chulalongkorn of Siam in 1871.
