National Museum
Art in Bloemfontein

The National Museum – a natural history, cultural history and art museum in South Africa.

The mission of the National Museum is to provide heritage resources and an enjoyable experience to all people through quality research, conservation, education and exhibitions. In this exhibition the visitor can experience the rich history, of over 150 years, of the city and its surroundings. This diorama is based on a painting of Bloemfontein by Thomas Baines in In the 1800s this species roamed the plains of South Africa in herds of thousands. The Black Wildebeest is endemic to the central grasslands of South Africa. In this showcase are some of the strange animals of the Pleistocene (2,6 million to 10 000 years ago) compared with their modern relatives. Culna is a popular magazine with articles written by staff of the Museum on topics related to the Museum. Oliewenhuis Art Museum is a declared national institution with a mission to collect, conserve and exhibit works of art which represent the heritage of South African art. The First Raadsaal is the oldest remaining building in Bloemfontein. The Wagon Museum is situated on the same premises as the First Raadsaal Museum. It houses a collection of historical wagons and carriages. Two preceding events facilitated the establishment of a museum: the so-called Philadelphia Exhibition and the availability of a building. A year after the Exhibiton, the government of the Free State Republic was requested to make the government building in St George Street (now the First Raadsaal Museum) available as a museum and to donate the objects that were exhibited in America to the museum. At the founding meeting a committee was elected, with Dr Hugh Exton appointed as the first Honorary Curator. At the time, fundraising was the responsibility of the committee, but a small subsidy was also received from the government. Kellner was appointed as Honorary Curator, a position he held until his death in The building soon became too small for the various exhibits and an extension, added to the western side of the Raadsaal, was occupied in January At the end of his tenure as Director, the staff complement had increased to Hoffman placed great emphasis on the educational function of the Museum and on his initiative excellent displays and dioramas were completed. Regarding research, the emphasis was mainly on Palaeontology, Anthropology and Archaeology. Conservation and research became the responsibility of specific research departments and several new departments were established. Most of the satellite museums (First Raadsaal and Wagon Museums, Freshford House Museum and the Florisbad Quaternary Research Station) were also established during this time. Challenges during Nuttall’s term have included ensuring that the Museum remains positioned as a heritage institution of international standing in the transforming South African landscape, especially regarding heritage. In the face of change, the National Museum has however been able to maintain, and in some cases, expand on, vibrant heritage research and conservation initiatives that are the essential responsibilities of museums.