Cultural experiences

South African museums: Free State

  • Bethlehem
  • Bethulie
  • Bloemfontein
  • Heilbron
  • Ladybrand
  • Welkom
  • Winburg
  • Witsieshoek

    Bethlehem

    The Bethlehem Museum is a social and historical museum housed in the first Mission Church, built in 1906.
    Tel: (058) 303-5076
    Fax: (058) 303-4703
    Mon & Thur: 10:00-12:30
    Tues, Wed & Fri: 10:00-12:30; 14:30-17:00
    Sat: 10:00-12:00

    Bethulie

    Bethulie was a London Missionary Society station and the original mission buildings still stand. The Pellissier House Museum depicts the history of events in the area. Built in 1843, the house and its outbuildings display 19th century household effects, farm implements and war relics.
    Address: 1 Voortrekker Street
    Tel: (051762) 69
    Fax: (051762) 333
    Tues & Thur: 10:00-12:30
    Sat: 14:00-17:00
    After hours on request

    Bloemfontein

    The National Museum was established in 1877 with displays, collections and research undertaken in the fields of entomology, arachnology, mammalogy, herpetology, ornithology, archaeology, botany, palaeo-ecology, palaeontology, anthropology, archaeology, cultural history, rock art and fine arts.
    Website: www.nasmus.co.za
    Email: ornito@nasmus.co.za
    Address: 36 Aliwal Street
    Tel: (051) 447-9609
    Fax: (051) 447-6273
    Mon-Sat: 08:00-17:00
    Sun & public holidays: 12:00-17:30

    The First Raadsaal Museum is housed in a typical South African pioneer's building, constructed in 1849 and the first school north of the Orange River. The building also served as a church until 1852, was used by the Legislative Council of the Orange River Sovereignty and later as an assembly hall, and in 1877 became the first National Museum building.
    Website: www.nasmus.co.za
    Address: 95 St Georges Street
    Tel: (051) 447-9609
    Fax: (051) 447-6273
    Mon-Fri: 10:00-13:00
    Sat, Sun & public holidays: 14:00-17:00

    Freshford House Museum, with its asymmetrical facade, unplastered red brick walls, bay-windows, veranda and sink roof (1897), is one of the few houses of the upper middle class of the Edwardian period that still exists in Bloemfontein.
    Website: www.nasmus.co.za
    Address: 31 Kellner Street
    Tel: (051) 447-9609
    Fax: (051) 447-6273
    Mon-Fri: 10:00-13:00
    Sat, Sun & public holidays: 14:00-17:00

    The Wagon Museum houses a collection of historical wagons and carriages and has displays on the development of transport and the making of a wagon wheel.
    Website: www.nasmus.co.za
    Address: 95 St Georges Street
    Tel: (051) 447-9609
    Fax: (051) 447-6273
    Mon-Fri: 10:00-13:00
    Sat, Sun & public holidays: 14:00-17:00

    Bram Fischer House was once the home of the lawyer and prominent anti-apartheid activist.
    Address: 72 Reitz Ave, Westdene
    Tel: (051) 405-8490
    By appointment

    The Military Museum (Queens Fort) - The fort, completed in 1849, is on a koppie overlooking the city. It was used as a military headquarters, a hospital, a mental institution, and a jail. It features displays on the Difaqane, Anglo-Boer War, the two World Wars and the anti-apartheidstruggle for democracy.
    Address: 116 Church Street
    Tel: (051) 447-5478
    Fax: (051) 405-4259
    Tue-Fri: 10:00-12:15; 13:00-16:00

    The National Afrikaans Literary Museum and Research Centre is a repository of works by prominent Afrikaans writers and overviews of the development of Afrikaans literature. Archival material is housed in the Research Centre.
    Website: www.fs.gov.za
    Email: naln@sac.fs.gov.za
    Tel: (051) 405-4034
    Fax: (051) 405-4259
    Mon-Fri: 7:30-12:15; 13:00-16:00
    Sat: 9:00-12:00

    The Afrikaans Music Museum traces the development of music in South Africa, and includes displays on well-known composers, and showcases old musical instruments and sheet music. In the same building the National Theatre Museum features displays on the development of South African theatre and exhibits costumes, photographs and furniture.
    Address: 36 Aliwal Street
    Tel: (051) 447-9609
    Fax: (051) 447-6273
    Mon-Fri: 7:30-12:15; 13:00-16:00
    Sat: 9:00-12:00

    Originally the official residence of the last three presidents of the Republic of the Orange Free State, the Old Presidency, dating back to 1885, reflects their late Victorian lifestyle during the period 1886 to 1899. It houses a museum depicting their respective terms of office, and a cultural centre for art exhibitions, theatrical productions and musical events.
    Address: 17 President Brand Street
    Tel: (051) 448-0949
    Fax: (051) 405-4259
    Tues-Fri: 10:00-12:00; 13:00-16:00
    Sun: 14:00-17:00

    The Anglo-Boer War Museum not only gives visitors insights into the Anglo-Boer War through its unique art collection, dioramas and exhibits, it also brings them closer to understanding the background against which the war took place. Visitors are afforded a glimpse into the life in the concentration camps and prisoner of war camps. The research library contains an extensive collection of Africana.
    Website: www.anglo-boer.co.za
    Email: museum@anglo-boer.co.za
    Address: Monument Road
    Tel: (051)447-0079
    Fax: (051)447-3447
    Mon-Fri: 9:00-16:30
    Sat: 10:00-17:00
    Sun: 14:00-17:00

    The SA Armour Museum contains artefacts, objects, books, other publications and documents which relate to the history of South African armoured forces. There are also displays of armoured fighting vehicles, parts and accessories.
    Address: School of Armour, Frans Steynberg Street
    Tel: (051) 402-1728
    Fax: (051) 402-1736

    The Florisbad Research Station, a satellite of the National Museum, is situated in an internationally important fossil locality which has produced a human skull dated to around 259 000 years ago as well as valuable archaeological and palaeontological material.
    Website: www.nasmus.co.za
    Address: Florisbad, Soutpan, 40kms N-W of Bloemfontein on the S142 Bultfontein Road
    Tel: (051) 447-9609
    Fax: (051) 447-6273
    By arrangement

    Heilbron

    The Riemland Museum, housed in the old synagogue, is a local theme museum of the Riemland District and also features displays on Jewish history.
    Address: Langmark Street
    Tel: (05889) 22014
    Fax: (05889) 21764
    Tues: 08:00-12:00
    Wed: 13:00-16:00
    Fri: 09:00-12:00

    Ladybrand

    Combining culture and food, the Catharina Brand Heritage Collection of local history is housed in a restaurant.
    Address: 64 Kerk Street
    Tel: (05191) 41367
    Fax: (05191) 40305
    Mon-Fri: 8:00-17:00; 18:00-22:00
    Sat: 8:00-14:00; 18:00-22:00

    Philippolis

    The Transgariep Museum features, in thematic displays, the Griquas, the London Missionary Society, Emily Hobhouse, and Old Philippolis - the oldest town in the Free State.
    Address: Voortrekker Street
    Tel: (015) 773-0216
    Fax: (015) 773-0213
    Mon-Fri: 10:00-12:00

    Welkom

    The Welkom Museum houses displays of tourist attractions of the region, bird life, gold mining, and the careers of Welkom's leaders.
    Address: Corner Graaff-Reinet and Tulbach Streets
    Tel: (057) 391-3133
    Fax: (057) 353-2482
    Mon-Fri: 8:30-19:00
    Sat: 9:00-12:00

    Winburg

    Visitors to the Free State Voortrekker Museum can view displays on the history of the Voortrekkers in the Free State and their interaction with the local inhabitants.
    Address: Near the N1 to Johannesburg
    Tel: (051) 881-0130
    Mon-Fri: 10:00-12:15; 13:00-16:00

    Witsieshoek

    The Basotho Cultural Village depicts the lifestyle and architecture of the Southern Sotho. Visitors can participate in food tasting, music, and domestic activities.
    Website: www.dorea.co.za
    Email: basotho@dorea.co.za
    Address: On the R12 road between Phuthadijhaba and Clarens
    Tel: (058) 721-0300
    Fax: (058) 721-0304

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    Three generations of Boer fighters in the Anglo-Boer War (Image: Anglo-Boer War Museum)