NIAS HERITAGE MUSEUM

This museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts relating to local history and culture. Arranged in four large pavilions, its exhibits offer an in-depth insight into Nias' rich cultural heritage. On display are jewels worn by the nobility, weapons, crocodile-skin armor, traditional fishing and hunting tools, as well as objects linked to the ancestral practice of headhunting, an emblematic symbol of the island. The museum also features wooden sculptures used in ancestor worship rites, ceremonial drums, coffins with dragon heads, and magnificent models of traditional houses. To better understand the meaning and function of each object, explanatory panels in Indonesian and English are available.

Surrounding the exhibition buildings, the garden is home to impressive megaliths and authentic houses from different regions of Nias, testifying to the island's architectural and heritage diversity. Since its opening in 1995, the museum has established itself as the cultural and artistic center of Nias, becoming an essential reference point for all those wishing to discover the richness of this unique culture. In 2014, its founder was awarded the prize for "Best Curator of Cultural Heritage" by the Indonesian Ministry of Culture. The enthusiastic staff offer tours in Indonesian and English. The Museum is a true living heritage, carefully preserved.