Minangkabau Culture Documentation and Information Center

The Minangkabau Culture Documentation and Information Center is a research and documentation institution housed in a building designed like a traditional Rumah Gadang with sloping roofs. Sloped garden terraces lead visitors through the grounds toward the main entrance.

The center was established in 1988 and opened in 1990 as a project to preserve Minangkabau heritage. The founding reflected a broader regional effort to document and protect local traditions for future generations.

The center displays wedding customs, regional clothing, and objects from the Pagaruyung kingdom that remain central to Minangkabau identity. Visitors can observe how these elements shape the community's daily understanding of tradition.

The center is open Saturday through Wednesday from 7 am to 5 pm, with shorter hours on Thursdays until 3 pm. It closes on Fridays, so plan your visit for other days of the week.

The collection holds over 600 cassette recordings of Minangkabau music and books published before 1942. These audio recordings and historical publications preserve traditions that are difficult to document through written materials alone.

Location: Silaing Bawah

Inception: August 8, 1988

Founders: Busthanul Arifin

Official opening: December 19, 1990

GPS coordinates: -0.47023,100.37882

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:44