Transformasi Fungsi dan Peran Museum Perjuangan Tridaya Eka Dharma Bukittinggi Tahun 1973-2025

Abstract

Museums function not only as institutions for preserving cultural heritage but also as spaces for shaping collective memory, providing public education, and representing historical narratives. Political changes in Indonesia have significantly influenced the functions and roles of museums, including the Tridaya Eka Dharma Struggle Museum in Bukittinggi, which was established during the New Order era. This study aims to analyze the transformation of the functions and roles of the Tridaya Eka Dharma Struggle Museum from an instrument of political legitimacy to a historical tourism destination during the period of 1973-2024. This research employed the historical method with a qualitative approach, consisting of four stages: heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. Data were collected through archival research, official documents, field observations, interviews, and relevant scholarly literature. The findings reveal that during the period of 1973-1998, the museum functioned as an instrument of political legitimacy by reinforcing the state's official historical narrative concerning the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI) and the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI) through the presentation of collections and historical interpretations aligned with New Order policies. During the Reform Era (1999-2010), the museum experienced a paradigm shift from a collection-centered institution to a people-centered institution, leading to the expansion of its educational function in response to democratization and increasing public demand for historical openness. Furthermore, in the period of 2011-2025, the museum strengthened its role as a center for public history education and historical tourism through educational programs, promotional activities, and the gradual adoption of digital media, although challenges remain in terms of funding, human resources, and the digitalization of museum collections. This study concludes that the transformation of the Tridaya Eka Dharma Struggle Museum has been shaped by changes in political regimes, museum policies, and evolving societal needs. These findings demonstrate that the museum has evolved from serving primarily as an instrument of political legitimacy into a public institution that contributes to the preservation of collective memory, history education, and the development of cultural and historical tourism.