In March 1902, the building was officially opened under the name of STOVIA, the colonial medicine school for the Javanese and other native people.

Students were obliged to live in the dorm until the completion of the 10 years study.

[2] In 1920, because of the increasing number of students, studies were conducted in a new building (now the Medicine facility of the University of Indonesia).

[3] After the independence of Indonesia, the building was used as temporary residences for the KNIL and their families.

The building collects 2,042 items related to the Indonesian National Awakening including original furniture of the school building, medical equipment, medical costumes, weapons, photographs, paintings, sculptures, dioramas, miniatures, sketches and maps.