Cultural experiences
South African museums: Free State
Bethlehem
The Bethlehem Museum is a social and historical museum housed in the first Mission Church, built in 1906.Tel: (058) 303-5076
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.1 Voortrekker Street
Tel: (051762) 69
Tues & Thur: 10:00-12:30
Sat: 14:00-17:00
After hours on request
Bloemfontein
The National Museum, founded in 1877, houses extensive natural and cultural heritage collections and strives for excellence through research, conservation and education. Visitors are exposed to the wide range of our heritage through exhibits designed to be of interest to both adults and children. Exhibitions include a realistically re-created street scene from the early 1900s, the history of Bloemfontein, the fossil of one of the oldest dinosaurs (found near Ladybrand), the world's first fiberglass cast of an elephant and live displays of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Café Museum serves refreshments and light lunches. The National Museum is fully accessible for the disabled.36 Aliwal Street
Tel: (051) 447-9609
Mon-Fri: 08:00-17:00
Sat: 10:00-17:00
Sun & public holidays: 12:00-17:30
Website Oliewenhuis Art Museum is housed in a Neo-Dutch style mansion, completed in 1941 and served as residence for the Governor General of the Union of South Africa. In 1985 it was converted into an art museum as a satellite of the National Museum. The Permanent Collection housed at Oliewenhuis is an outstanding collection of South African art, which includes a unique outdoor Sculpture Park and a working African Carousel, for which original sculptures were commissioned. Temporary exhibitions of South African artists are regularly exhibited in the Museum galleries as well as in the underground Reservoir gallery. Other highlights include the Blind Alphabet, an artwork created specifically for the sight impaired and the Cement and Mosaic Sculptures in the gardens. The Terrace, a restaurant in these extensive gardens, serves light meals, delicacies and speciality cakes.
16 Harry Smith Street
Tel: (051) 447-9609
Mon-Fri: 08:00-17:00
Sat: 10:00-17:00
Sun & public holidays: 13:00-17:00
Website Freshford House Museum, with its asymmetrical façade, unplastered red brick walls, bay windows and veranda, was built in 1897 by the architect John Edwin Harrison. The house has been restored to its original state and authentically furnished by the National Museum to give visitors a glimpse of the interior of a Late Victorian-Early Edwardian home. A fragrant English garden, typical of the Late Victorian period, surrounds the house. Freshford House Museum is a satellite of the National Museum.
31 Kellner Street
Tel: (051) 447 9609
Mon-Fri: 10:00-13:00
Sat, Sun & public holidays: 14:00-17:00
Website The First Raadsaal Museum is housed in a typical pioneer building that served as the first school, church and administration building north of the Orange River. Built in 1849, the First Raadsaal, with its dung floor and thatched roof, is the oldest surviving building in Bloemfontein. In 1877 the National Museum was established in this building, but moved to a new building in 1915. Exhibits in the First Raadsaal include displays which give a pictorial representation of the founding of Bloemfontein, the early history of the city and the founding of the National Museum. The First Raadsaal Museum is a satellite of the National Museum.
95 St George Street
Tel: (051) 447 9609
Mon–Fri: 10:00–13:00
Sat, Sun & public holidays: 14:00–17:00
Website The Wagon Museum is located on the same premises as the First Raadsaal Museum and houses a collection of historical wagons and carriages, including an original Voortrekker ox wagon. A new display, which will focus on the means of transport used by black people during the early 1900s, will be opened to the public in 2009.
95 St Georges Street
Tel: (051) 447-9609
Mon-Fri: 10:00-13:00
Sat, Sun & public holidays: 14:00-17:00
Website Bram Fischer House was once the home of the lawyer and prominent anti-apartheid activist.
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.
116 Church Street
Tel: (051) 447-5478
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.
Tel: (051) 405-4034
Mon-Fri: 7:30-12:15; 13:00-16:00
Sat: 9:00-12:00
Website 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.
17 President Brand Street
Tel: (051) 448-0949
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.
Monument Road
Tel: (051) 447-0079
Mon-Fri: 9:00-16:30
Sat: 10:00-17:00
Sun: 14:00-17:00
Website 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.
School of Armour, Frans Steynberg Street
Tel: (051) 402-1728
Website The Florisbad Quaternary Research Department, 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.
Florisbad, Soutpan, 40kms N-W of Bloemfontein on the S142 Bultfontein Road
Tel: (051) 447-9609
By arrangement
Website
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. Langmark StreetTel: (05889) 22014
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.64 Kerk Street Tel: (05191) 41367
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.Voortrekker Street
Tel: (015) 773-0216
Mon-Fri: 10:00-12:00
Website
Welkom
The Welkom Museum houses displays of tourist attractions of the region, bird life, gold mining, and the careers of Welkom's leaders.Corner Graaff-Reinet and Tulbach Streets
Tel: (057) 391-3133
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.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.On the R12 road between Phuthadijhaba and Clarens
Tel: (058) 721-0300
Website