CATEGORY:

HISTORY & CULTURE, ARTS & CRAFTS

LOCATION: BLOEMFONTEIN

DESCRIPTION:

The National Museum dates back to 1877, when its collections and displays comprised mainly rarities from around the world.

Displays, collections and research are undertaken in the fields of entomology, arachnology, mammalogy, herpetology, ornithology, archaeology, botany, palaeo-ecology, palaeontology, anthropology, archaeology, cultural history, rock art and fine arts.

The National Museum has a large collection of fossils and archaeological material, including the famous Florisbad Skull and one of the largest known dinosaurs.

In 1932, excavations at a spring just north of Bloemfontein unearthed the famous Florisbad skull fragment, now houses in the National Museum. This together with remains of such extinct animals as the giant buffalo, forms treasure house of unique and fascinating items and artefacts, bringing to life the story of man out of Africa.

The ethnological section has interesting displays on the life of the Bushmen, and there are also exhibitions on the history of the Free State. The Insect Collection includes thousands of computer catalogued specimen, some dating from the 1800's.

36 Aliwal Street

Bloemfontein

Free State

9300

South Africa

Tel: +27 051 4479 609