museum

Read more about the article The Great Fish River Museum in Cradock
Firefly the Travel Guy

The Great Fish River Museum in Cradock

I've always had a thing for museums. It's a love that developed from visiting the Port Elizabeth Museum and Castle Hill No.7 as a child, and it has always stayed with me. Museums aren't everybody's cup of tea, but if you want to learn more about a place's history, then the local museum is the place to go. Add to that the fact that most towns have a museum of some kind and you'll know what one of the first…

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11/06/2025
Read more about the article The sights and sounds of the Elands River Road
Firefly the Travel Guy / Port Elizabeth Daily Photo

The sights and sounds of the Elands River Road

I've ventured onto the Elands River Road a couple of times over the years for various reasons, but I've never gone very far down the road. An outing with the Military History Society a little while ago (I really have to catch up on posting everything I have sitting in the "To Post" folder) meant I got to do the first half of the route. The Elands River Road starts at Rocklands just outside Uitenhage. The first roughly 10km is…

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21/03/2025
Read more about the article Schreiner House – “A Story of an African Farm” be here
Firefly the Travel Guy

Schreiner House – “A Story of an African Farm” be here

Cradock is a town filled with history. Frontier Wars, the Groot Trek, Anglo Boer War and more. It's also a town that was called home by a number of historic figures. One of those being Olive Schreiner and there is a museum in the town where you can go and learn more about her. Olive Schreiner House at 9 Cross Street in Cradock is one of the houses in which Olive Schreiner (1855-1920), the political activist, feminist and author of the world-renowned novel, The Story of an African…

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28/06/2024
Read more about the article The Mount Ingwe Anglo Boer War Museum outside Port Elizabeth
Firefly the Travel Guy / Port Elizabeth Daily Photo

The Mount Ingwe Anglo Boer War Museum outside Port Elizabeth

This past weekend we joined the Eastern Cape Branch of the South African Military History Society on their quarterly outing. The destination. Lukas van der Merwe's Anglo Boer War Museum at Mount Ingwe in the Elandsrivier Valley between Port Elizabeth and Patensie. It's one of those attractions that I have heard of but didn't know much about and not having a bakkie or SUV I've never really considered heading out to it. The 50km dirt road from Rocklands near Uitenhage…

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17/04/2024
Read more about the article Exploring the fascinating Somerset East Museum
Firefly the Travel Guy

Exploring the fascinating Somerset East Museum

Nestled against the foot of the Boschberg above Somerset East stands a building just about as old as the town. The land was originally given to Wesleyan missionaries for a chapel and graveyard with the chapel getting consecrated in 1828. A mere four years later in 1832, the property was transferred to the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk of Somerset and in 1975 the Somerset East Old Parsonage Museum was inaugurated during the celebration of Somerset East’s 150th anniversary. In 1834 Ds.…

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18/08/2023
Read more about the article The museum ghosts of Somerset East
Somerset East Old Parsonage Museum ghost stories
Firefly the Travel Guy

The museum ghosts of Somerset East

You know that feeling when you walk around a very old place, often on your own? Yes, that feeling when you think to yourself that you really don't want to be alone there after dark. That feeling that you are sure something goes bump in the night there. Yes, thaaaaaatttt feeling. The one when the hair on the back of your neck rises and something crawls slowly down your spine. Somerset East has two excellent museums with a lot of…

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22/07/2022
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Nr 7 Castle Hill historical museum

One of Port Elizabeth's favorite museums is No 7 Castle Hill.  The history of the building goes right back to the early days of Port Elizabeth with Rev. Francis McCleland building it as his parsonage and family home in 1825.  The house is one of the oldest remaining dwelling houses in Port Elizabeth and is furnished as a mid-Victorian period family home. A lot of the furniture and items in the house comes from the 1840–1870 era to show visitors…

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19/01/2018
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PE’s Airforce Museum deserves to be discovered

I am often amazed at how many people didn't know that Port Elizabeth has a South African Airforce Museum.  Located behind the airport in a restored World War II hanger, the museum has a great collection of planes, choppers, equipment, uniforms, models and other paraphernalia.  It's easy to get to, just follow  Forrest Hill Drive through Forrest Hill and around to the back of the airport.  The museum will interest both young and old and is absolutely free with a…

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14/06/2017
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Jewish Museum on Raleigh Street

I quick drive around Richmond Hill the other day had me stop in front of the Jewish Pioneer Memorial Museum in Richmond Hill.  Standing there I realised that I have actually never been inside the museum so I can't really tell you what is inside from a first hand perspective.  I can tell you this though. The museum is housed in the original synagogue which was used by the Jewish community between 1912 and 1954.  The museum features a collection…

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06/10/2016
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Fun with science

When it comes to fun science, everybody becomes a child.  It's no difference at the NMB Science and Technology Centre in Uitenhage.  There are so many fun and fascinating things to try.  Things like lying down on a bed of nails to just name one.  Another one that always fascinates me is the floating ball.  How do they do it?   

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09/12/2015