Known throughout the country for its renown as an archaeological museum, Gedong Arca houses a varied collection of Balinese artifacts including bronze relics, weapons, tools, and stone sarcophagi from around the island. The Museum was officially opened in 1868 and popularly known as Gedung Gajah (Elephant Building) or sometimes called Gedung Arca (The house of Statues). It was called Gedung Gajah on account of the bronze elephant statue in the front yard. In 2007, a new building to the north side of existing building was opened, featuring many artifacts from prehistoric times to modern times. This new building is called Gedung Arca because a great variety of statues from different periods are on display in the house.

The museum has a collection of 61,600 prehistoric and anthropological artifacts, and 5,000 archeological artifacts from all over Indonesia and Asia. The museum collections are among the richest, the most complete, and the best of its kind in Indonesia and one of the finest in Southeast Asia.