An area of 1.5 hectares is comprised of several buildings. Large buildings in the center and flanked by two smaller buildings on the left and right. This building was established in 1864 and originally used as an orphanage for children orphaned boys.
In 1912, the orphanage was moved to Jalan Embong Malang. Then in 1932 after a fairly successful, Liem Seeng Tee purchased this building as a cigarette manufacturer Sampoerna. Since then, this place is known as the Mill Park Sampoerna.
Building the Great House of Sampoerna
In the large main building, initially there is a wide hall. Therefore, the idea of Liem’s wife, the hall was made into a movie theater with a Sampoerna Theater. The theater is equipped with a rotating stage, and an artificial floor for special effects, thus making it one of the greatest theater building at the time. Ir Soekarno often uses this hall to rekindle the spirit of struggle in the colonial period. Even Charlie Chaplin had visited the theater.
Currently, the main building into a museum of the House of Sampoerna cigarettes. Upon entering this building, the smell of cloves can be smelled. In the first room in this big building, you can see a replica of the first booth cigarette used by Liem Seeng Tee to sell basic food items and tobacco. You can also see the old bikes had the founder of Sampoerna who used to sell cigarettes. In addition, there are various personal items such as kebaya, sarong, and the founder of Sampoerna’s old furniture.
In the middle of the main buildings, there are various photos of the directors and commissioners of Sampoerna. In addition there are various collections of cigarettes and lighters are exhibited here. Then at the very back room is still in the main building, there are various tools from the Sampoerna cigarette production in the early days. For example the means of production of cigarettes and old printing machines. You can also see a variety of research equipment for the manufacture of cigarettes from R & D department at that time.
At the back of the main building, there are a large enough factory to produce cigarettes. Until recently, this building is still used to produce enough cigarettes Sampoerna Dji Sam Soe is populist, and processed in the traditional. You can watch the process of making cigarettes in one room of this mill from the stage at the second floor of the main building. The factory was opened on Monday through Saturday from 6 am to 3 pm. There are 234 workers who make tobacco products in this room with a traditional music background. Each worker can produce 325 cigarettes per hour!
House of Sampoerna
Then on the right and left of the main building, there are smaller buildings. Both this building called West House and East House. Both this house has a reverse plans (like a mirror). Formerly, this building was used as Sampoerna family dwelling. The founder of Sampoerna has a principle that the family should stay in the factory location to be able to control the business more efficiently and effectively. In addition, the founder of Sampoerna wanted to teach his sons to learn to do business directly.
West Houses
Cigarettes shop SampoernaSebagai tradition, since then until now, the Sampoerna family still occupy one building. Precisely in the building left of the main building or a Western house, still occupied by the next generations the Sampoerna family. Initially occupying is Liem Seeng Tee and family, then occupied by his son Aga Sampoerna and is currently occupied by Putera Sampoerna with his family. West House also have a Rolls Royce cars made in 1972 which produced limited. These cars have a second generation of the Sampoerna family brought from Singapore so that still has the plate number SL 234. West’s house because it is still occupied by the Sampoerna family, it is not open to the public.
Eastern Houses
East house or on the right side of the main building, originally occupied by Adi Sampoerna, founder of Sampoerna’s first child. Then this house could use for various functions including the office. Today, the house was used as a cafe. Here you can enjoy a variety of foods and beverages while enjoying the live music offerings. You can also watch the various events or exhibitions held here.
Museum Tour Cigarettes
Although cigarettes are dangerous to health (see article: dangers of smoking) but it never hurts you visit the museum located in the location of the old city of Surabaya. You can learn many things from the way business Liem Seeng Tee, the founder of Sampoerna, which is ductile. In addition, you can study the history of one of the largest cigarette factory in Indonesia that is Sampoerna. House of Sampoera could be one of the city a tourist destination when you visit the city of Surabaya.