The country of South Africa is rich with cultural and natural history. This is quite true for the city of Johannesburg. When one visits the city they will find a vast array of museums, that contain relics and items from the past as well as the present. They vary from museums of natural history to museums set on the sites of historical events. When one ventures out of their Johannesburg boutique hotels front door one embarks on a journey of the mind, a journey that involves each one of the senses.
The Dynamite Factory Museum displays the history of dynamite and other explosives. The records give emphasis to the history of how the explosives where used throughout the history of mining, diamond mining and the continued mining of gold in Johannesburg today. These two industries have shaped the history and continue to add to the destiny of the future of South Africa. The Adler Museum of Medicine was created by Doctor Cyril Adler in 1962. This museum has collected and preserved any and all material that illustrates medical history, not only that of South Africa, but of medical history in general. The South African Airways Museum is another museum dedicated to science and technology. The collection at the museum consists of older airplanes to jet engines. There is also a section that is filled with memorabilia and artifacts all surrounding the history of aviation, as well as a library with a vast collection of books.
One of the museums that is dedicated to site history is that of Constitutional Hill. This is the home of the court, and is also set on the location of the Old Fort Prison. Throughout the times of apartheid this was a place of punishment. Political activists that stood up for democracy were imprisoned here, including Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. The Hector Peterson is located on the memorial site of a twelve year old boy, Hector Peterson. In 1976, a student demonstration led to a terrible outcome. The museum accounts the history of the riots and is named for the young boy as he was the first of five hundred and sixty six people that were shot by the police that day. Many of the other site specific museums illustrate similar accounts of horrific events, but they also celebrate the perseverance of the people of the country throughout the years of turmoil, and they serve to give hope and strength to future generations.
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