Event information
The Mafikeng Museum in housed in an ornate old building dating back to 1902. It offers some interesting and diverse displays. There’s a retired steam locomotive outside, as well as displays of prehistoric artifacts that will appeal to children and adults. There are also exhibits focused on Tswana culture and history, which tell stories of the heritage and history of the region’s people.
Housed in the former Old Town Hall, this structure with its impressive steel ceiling, old town clock and elaborate architectural style, dominated the centre of the town during its early years.
One notable permanent exhibition is dedicated to Sol T Plaatje – the founder of the African National Congress (ANC). His experiences are recorded in his Mafikeng Diary. Other items showcase the tribal origins of Mafikeng, old tools, crafts, and herbal medicines used by our ancestors. An entire room in the museum is dedicated to the 1899-1900 siege of Mafikeng during the Anglo-Boer War.
The curator of this museum also holds keys to various other historical sites in and around the town, and can provide visitors with sightseeing information.