The Wagon Museum

AVAILABLE: Guided Tours | Family Friendly | OPEN: Monday – Saturday | MORE INFO: Museum Website

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Free State is steeped in South African history, and a great place to experience this is at the Wagon Museum, located at 95 St George Street in Bloemfontein. This museum is home to a collection of historical wagons and carriages that played an integral role in the transport and migration of people in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

About the Museum

The Wagon Museum shares premises with the First Raadsaal Museum, another cultural gem in Bloemfontein. The museum’s collection includes a wide variety of wagons and carriages, such as the Voortrekker ox wagon, a transport wagon, stagecoach, mule wagon, spider, and Cape cart. Visitors can also explore an exhibition area featuring panels depicting the evolution of transport throughout the ages and the process of making a wagon wheel.

One of the highlights of the museum is a display that focuses on the means of transport used by African people during the early 1900s. This exhibit provides a unique insight into the transportation methods that were used in different communities during this time and the role that wagons played in their daily lives.

Interesting Facts

The Wagon Museum is home to South Africa’s oldest type of ox-wagon, known as the ‘kakebeenwa.’ This wagon descended from the wagons introduced to the Cape by Jan van Riebeeck in the mid-17th century. However, the Dutch ‘ladder’ wagon was too flimsy to survive the rough terrain of the Cape, leading the first white settlers to develop their own unique wagon. The wooden base of the wagon took the shape of the jawbone of an ox, giving it its name.
For the trek-boer of the 18th century and the Voortrekkers of the Great Trek (1835-1854), the ‘kakebeenwa’ was more than a means of transport; it was often their only home. When drawn up in a laager with other wagons, it became a fortress of defense. The ‘kakebeenwa’ could also be disassembled in just five minutes, making it easy to transport across rivers and mountains.
One of the most notable wagons on display at the museum is the ‘Dirkie Uys Wagon.’ This ox-wagon was among those selected in 1938 for their age and authenticity to re-enact the 100th anniversary of the Great Trek. Today, the ‘Dirkie Uys Wagon’ is on permanent display at the Wagon Museum and provides visitors with a unique insight into the history of South Africa’s transportation and migration.

Physical Location

Conclusion

The Wagon Museum is a good destination for anyone interested in South Africa’s rich cultural heritage. The museum’s collection of wagons and carriages provides a unique insight into the transportation methods used in different communities during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors can also explore an exhibition area featuring panels that depict the evolution of transport and the process of making a wagon wheel.