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Friday, February 4, 2011

Heritage 4

Museum at House of Sampoerna Situated in "old Surabaya"? this stately Dutch colonial-style compound was built in 1862 and is now a preserved historical site. Previously used as an orphanage managed by the Dutch? it was purchased in 1932 by Liem Seeng Tee? the founder of Sampoerna? with the intent of it being used as Sampoerna?s first major cigarette production facility. The compound consisted of a large central auditorium? two smaller buildings on the east and west sides and numerous large? single story? open-space structures behind the central auditorium. The side buildings were converted to family residences and the large warehouse-like structures were used to accommodate facilities for tobacco and clove processing? blending? hand-rolling and packaging? printing and finished goods processing. Today? the compound is still functioning as a production plant for Indonesia?s most prestigious cigarette? Dji Sam Soe. In commemoration of Sampoerna?s 90th anniversary in 2003? the central complex has been painstakingly restored and is now open to public. The original central auditorium is now a museum and the east side has been transformed into a unique structure containing a cafe, a merchandise kiosk and an art gallery. The building on the west side remains the official family residence. The Museum offers a truly unique experience for visitors. From the story of the founding family to closely watching a real hand-roll production facility and ending up with an unforgettable experience of rolling a stick of Dji Sam Soe cigarette yourself. Yes? you can join the 3?200 women in this plant? hand-rolling cigarettes using traditional equipment. They do it at a speed of more than 325 sticks per hour. The Museum Shop offers a wide selection of gifts and souvenirs. These include items such as miniature of traditional cigarette rolling equipment? packets of cloves? books? t-shirts and polos.

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