While many see museums as a snore fest, these 7 Johannesburg museums have intriguing stories to tell. Stories of turbulent racial struggles, legendary heroes, the brutal side of gold mining, the art of medicine, and the mysterious origins of humankind. Venture in and discover something new…

Museum Africa

Museum Africa is Johannesburg’s social and cultural history museum. Take an animated journey through the city’s past; walking into a recreated 1950s shebeen and a dorm of concrete beds, and reliving historical moments like the Rivonia Treason Trial through artefacts, photographs, paintings, musical instruments, and archaeological items.

Address: Old Market Building, 121 Bree Street, Newtown
Open: Tuesday – Sunday from 09h00 – 17h00
Cost: Free

Origins Centre

The Origins Centre takes you on an 80,000 year journey of ancient art and culture. See the earliest man-made images found in South Africa, hominid fossils, contemporary art, indigenous South African music and art, and artistic representations of paleontological, archaeological, and cultural themes. You’ll need at least 90 minutes to explore the museum with narrated audio-guides or a guided tour.

Address: University of the Witwatersrand, c/o Yale and Enoch Sontonga Roads, Braamfontein
Open: Monday – Saturday from 09h00-17h00, and Sunday from 10h00 -17h00.
Cost: R35 – R60

The Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid Museum offers a fascinating first-hand experience of South Africa’s turbulent past. The 22 individual exhibitions document the rise and fall of apartheid using provocative film footage, photographs, text panels, and artefacts. Plan for at least a 2-hour visit as you’ll be overwhelmed by the events and stories of the apartheid saga.

Address: c/o Northern Parkway and Gold Reef Roads, Ormonde
Open: Tuesday – Sunday from 09h00 – 17h00
Cost:  R60 for adults. R45 for pensioners, students, and children. Guided tours must be booked in advance and are an additional R5 per person.

Mandela House

Mandela House was the Sowetan home of South Africa’s beloved former president, Nelson Mandela. The Mandela family occupied the house from 1946 – 1996, although Nelson Mandela himself only resided there until 1961 when he was forced underground before his imprisonment in 1962. In 1997, Mandela donated the house to the Soweto Heritage Trust to preserve the legacy of the Mandela family through an assortment of memorabilia, paintings, and photographs. Since undergoing renovations, the museum house also has multi-media and audio visual displays as well as a Visitor Centre where visitors can purchase quality Mandela House merchandise.

Address: 8115 Orlando West, Soweto
Open: Daily from 09:00 – 16:45 (excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day)
Cost: R40 – R60 for adults. R20 for pensioners, students, and children over 6 years. R5 for school groups and children u/6. Soweto residents are entitled to half-price admission on presentation of a valid proof of residence.

Hector Pieterson Museum & Memorial Site

Head to the streets of Soweto and amidst the juxtaposed shacks and mansions you’ll find the Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial Site. Named after Hector Pieterson, a 12 year old boy who was the first person shot dead by police during the student uprising on 16 June 1976, the museum houses photographic and audio-visual displays of the youth struggle against apartheid. The Hector Peterson Memorial Site is located nearby, commemorating the 566 people who died in the police massacre.

Address: 8287 Khumalo Street, Orlando West, Soweto
Open: Monday – Saturday from 10h00 – 17h00, and Sunday from 10h00 – 16h00 (excluding Christmas Day and the Day of Goodwill).
Cost: R30 for Adults, R10 for students (13 and above), free entry for pensioners & children under 13. The Memorial Site is free.

Adler Museum of Medicine

The Adler Museum of Medicine houses over 40,000 objects that illuminate the history of medicine.  See reconstructions of an early Johannesburg pharmacy, dental surgery, and doctor’s room. Browse the optometry display, pictures, videos, sculptures, documents, library of rare books, and philatelic and medallion collections. Alternative medicine displays showcase the practices of acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Tibb, Ayurveda, and Traditional South African Healing.

Address: University of the Witwatersrand’s Medical School Campus, 7 York Road, Parktown
Open: Monday – Friday from 09h30-16h00. Sundays on request.
Cost: Self-guided museum tours are free. Guided tours range from R10 – R40.

Constitution Hill

Anchored by South Africa’s Constitutional Court, Constitution Hill is also the site of Johannesburg’s notorious Old Fort Prison Complex where many of South Africa’s political activists were detained, including Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Walter Sisulu. Tours and exhibitions include Nelson Mandela Exhibition: Prisoner in a Garden, Mahatma Gandhi: Prisoner of Conscience, The Old Fort, The Women’s Goal, and Constitutional Court.

Address: 11 Kotze Street, Braamfontein
Open: Monday – Friday from 09h00-17h00; Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays from 10h00-15h00 (excluding Good Friday, Christmas  Day, and New Year’s Day).

 
What museum do you recommend visiting in Johannesburg?

Feature image by sacks08 (flickr)