Aceh Tsunami Museum

The Aceh Tsunami Museum is a memorial and educational museum in Baiturrahman, Banda Aceh, Aceh, commemorating the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Designed by architect Ridwan Kamil and opened in 2009, the building's distinctive curved structure symbolizes resilience. It houses exhibits, photographs, survivor stories, and a memorial hall honoring victims, serving as both a place of remembrance and a disaster education center for visitors to Banda Aceh.

Visitors enter through a narrow, dark corridor with water flowing on both sides, symbolizing the tsunami experience, leading to exhibition halls with photographs, artifacts, maps, and multimedia displays about the 2004 disaster. The central memorial hall displays names of victims, while upper floors offer educational exhibits on disaster preparedness, a library, and viewing areas. The building features traditional Acehnese architectural elements, a rooftop garden, and a solemn, reflective atmosphere.

Built to commemorate the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that devastated Banda Aceh, the museum was designed by architect Ridwan Kamil and inaugurated in 2009. It serves as a memorial to approximately 170,000 victims in Aceh and as a disaster education center, with its structure also designed to function as an evacuation hill in case of future tsunamis.

The museum is a symbol of resilience and remembrance for the Acehnese people, incorporating traditional Acehnese house (Rumoh Aceh) elements and Islamic cultural values. It serves as a place for reflection, education on disaster preparedness, and preservation of survivor stories for future generations.