Museums of Cape Town
What is a museum?
A museum is a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study, education, enjoyment, the tangible and intangible evidence of people and their environment."
Source: Wikipedia
To make it clearer, 'A museum helps people understand the world by using objects and ideas to interpret the past and present and explore the future. A museum preserves and researches collections, and makes objects and information accessible in actual and virtual environments. Museums are established in the public interest as permanent, not-for-profit organisations that contribute long-term value to communities'. Source: Mavic
Therefore, visiting our local museums can be very useful and relevant to help you understand your past and your present, and that of other people around you. Museums are not only educational, but are usually affordable and quite a lot of fun too.
1. Robben Island Museum
One of the most famous museums in the world is right here in Cape Town (or just 12km out of Cape Town): the Robben Island Museum. Robben Island is an international symbol of freedom and democracy. Tourists from all over the world flock to the island to listen to ex-political prisoners talk of their experiences as prisoners on the island in the days of apartheid. Every South African needs and deserves to hear this piece of our history too.
According to the Robben Island Museum's website:
Tickets are sold at R200.00 for adults and R100.00 for children aged 4-17 years. Children under 4 come free, but must be included in the booking. The three and a half hour tour includes a return trip across Table Bay, a visit to the Maximum Security Prison, interaction with an ex-political prisoner and a 45 minute bus tour with a guide providing commentary.
Concession rates to schools and disadvantaged groups are also considered on application to the Education and Marketing departments respectively.
TO BOOK, CONTACT:
Nelson Mandela Gateway:
Tel: (021) 413 4200
Fax: (021) 419 1057
E-mail: ebookings(at)robben-island.org.za
2. District Six Museum
This museum tells the story of the forced removal of an entire community, over 60 000 people, from District Six by the apartheid government in the 1960s. Many of the photographs, audio-recordings and artefacts in the museum have been donated by former residents of District Six, as part of their effort to ensure that we never forget their loss.
Contact details
Telephone: +27 21 461 8745
Address: 25A Buitenkant Street, Cape Town, 8001
Website: District Six
Opening hours:
09h00 – 15h00 Mondays (doors close at 14h30)
09h00 - 16h00 Tuesdays - Saturdays (Sundays are by appointment only)
3. South African Museum
Founded in 1825, the South African Museum is the oldest museum in sub-Saharan Africa. The exhibitions mainly deal with the natural history of South Africa, her biological and her cultural resources of the past and present. Particularly impressive is the anthropological section with its big realistic dioramas. The Planetarium lies in an adjacent building.
Location25 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Hours
Open 10:00 - 17:00 daily
Closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday
Entrance fees
Adults: R15,00
Children: R5,00
Seniors and students on production of valid card: free
Saturdays: free
Web site: Iziko
More information on museums in Cape Town/ Western Cape (note that this is not an exhaustive list):
