Discover the History of Lighting up at Surabaya's House of Sampoerna
Converted into an industrious factory by the founder of Indonesia's clove cigarette brand Sampoerna, it is difficult to believe that the Dutch colonial complex that is now the House of Sampoerna was once an orphanage used by the Dutch. Constructed in 1862, the compound fell into the hands of iconic entrepreneur Liem Seeng Tee in 1932. Since then, the structure has served as Sampoerna's premier flagship cigarette production facility.
With its side buildings serving as a residence for the Liem Seeng Tee family, the House's main warehouses were used to process tobacco and cloves in its heyday while tobacco mixing, rolling, packing and printing work were also done in-house in a compound which also included a massive auditorium. Having been converted into a public space in 2003 to mark Sampoerna's 90th anniversary the large auditorium in the premises now houses a museum while the east side of the complex encompasses a cosy cafe , kiosk and an art gallery.
The museum is of course the focal point of any tour of the House of Sampoerna as it documents the family legacy of the brand while letting guests discover the various facets of cigarette and tobacco production. The intriguing exhibits at the museum include the founder's stall, old smoking-related equipment, an old printing machine, a brick oven used for drying tobacco and the earliest R&D equipment. An original Siem Tjiang Nio Kebaya is also exhibited within the premises in addition to the founder's old bicycle, an old motorcycle, a 1941 Packard 300 V8 and items pertaining to production in the factory's heyday. Visitors can also try their hand at rolling a Dji Sam Soe stick after observing female employees at the venue produce a staggering 325 sticks an hour by hand.
The venue's art gallery is also a must-see point of interest as it displays some of the finest work of Indonesia's premier artists. Showcasing the work of painters on a rotational basis, guests will find novice painters as well as household names in this eclectic collection of artworks which currently highlights the works of Sumadi & Kinkin as well as photographic exhibits by the Tim Tanah Air Antara Gallery and Perkumpulan Seni Foto Surabaya. Some items on display are for sale for the benefit of interested buyers while others have been loaned by connoisseurs. A souvenir kiosk is located on the second floor of the museum for added convenience. Guests can pick up books, clove packets, miniaturized cigarette rolling gear, t-shirts, batiks and handicrafts at the venue in addition to a host of Surabaya's signature memorabilia items.
Those in search of a Surabaya luxury hotel will be more than satisfied with the elegant Shangri-La Hotel, Surabaya. Quietly nestled in the fashionable Darmo community this sprawling rest is also one of the most picturesquely located Surabaya luxury hotels in the region.
About the Author
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
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