National Cultural History Museum

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Rock art in the central Drakensberg.

© South African Tourism

The National Cultural History Museum, also known as the African Window, is rightly regarded as the most dynamic, innovative heritage institution in South Africa.

At first part of the State Museum of the old Transvaal Republic, this Pretoria cultural history museum moved to its own premises near the National Zoological Gardens in Boom Street in 1904. Here it became the Pretoria Museum, then the Transvaal Museum.

When the South African Mint moved premises to Midrand, the museum moved to the Old Mint building in Visagie Street. There it became the National Cultural History Museum before completely reinventing itself as the cutting-edge African Window.

The museum still has its massive collection of documents, manuscripts, records, photographs and artifacts representing the country's diverse cultures and history, some of which are on permanent display. These range from the Stone and Iron Ages through our recent past to the present.

But it is how they are displayed that sets this cultural history museum in Pretoria apart. Here the rock art exhibit is the ‘rainbow collection' and the contemplation of space is ‘reach for the stars'. A must is the African headdresses collection.

This is where the African Window comes in, giving life to everything. For this is a living museum as well where culture is presented through regular song, dance, drama and film festivals.

This National Cultural History Museum, with over 5-million objects and artefacts, has the largest storage facility in southern Africa. There's also a library, auditorium, conference facility and gift shop on the premises.