Gracefully standing on a 6.25-hectare site, the Museum of Transportation under the Ministry of Transportation at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) showcases the history and evolution of transportation in Indonesia, offering visitors an educational and recreational experience. The first foundation pillar was laid by Ibu Tien Soeharto on February 14, 1984. Construction began in 1985, and the museum was officially inaugurated by President Soeharto on April 20, 1991.
The exhibitions in this museum are divided into several pavilions: the central pavilion, land pavilion, sea pavilion, and air pavilion. The central pavilion displays various traditional land and sea transportation modes from different regions across Indonesia, operated by human, animal, or wind power. Examples include the cikar, andong, bendi, becak, and traditional sailing boats. The land pavilion presents machine-powered land transportation, including road, rail, river, lake, and ferry transport. Among the featured collections are the DAMRI cikar, the first fleet used by DAMRI for military logistics in Surabaya and Mojokerto in 1946, as well as passenger train cars, locomotives, the iconic Becak Siantar, and various types of bicycles. The sea pavilion displays marine transportation powered by engines, such as passenger ships, container vessels, floating docks, and cargo ships. Meanwhile, the air pavilion presents various types of aircraft and aviation-related equipment, including airport facilities.
In addition to the indoor exhibits, the outdoor area features historic transportation modes and support systems. Highlights include the first-generation locomotives from the Indonesian Railway Company, railway tracks and tunnels, wooden train carriages, buses, and the Kereta Api Luar Biasa (KLB) or Extraordinary Train used by President Soekarno and Vice President Mohammad Hatta when the Indonesian government relocated to Yogyakarta. Also on display are a DC-9 PK-GNT aircraft from Garuda Indonesia, traditional Banjar boats from inland Kalimantan, and a lighthouse dating back to 1879.
