Transvaal Museum - Exploring Natural History
Situated on Paul Kruger Street, in Pretoria, the Transvaal Museum was built and completed in 1913. It is believed that the Transvaal Museum was designed by John Stockwin Cleland, who was employed as Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works in 1902, on his arrival from England. He also designed the Pretoria High School for Girls and Pretoria Boys’ High School.
The Transvaal Museum has four display halls. The first being the Genesis I: Hall of Life. Here the history of life on earth is exhibited though models of tape worms, insects, sea anemones and spiders. Displays of sharks and the extremely rare coelacanth are exhibited. The coelacanth in this hall was caught in 1938, off the Eastern Cape coast. Also included are models of reptiles and amphibians. The Genesis II: Mammal Hall, exhibits the evolutionary history of mammals, including unique mammals that roamed South Africa approximately 270 million years ago. In the Austin Roberts Bird Hall, visitors will find an astonishing collection of 870 of South Africa’s bird life. The Council of GeoScience provided the Transvaal Museum with the display for the GeoScience Museum exhibit that features precious and semi-precious stones and materials.
The Tranvaal Museum in Pretoria exhibits an impressive collection of Invertebrates, which sub divisions feature the Hymenoptera Collection, Neuroptera Collection, Orthoptera Collection, Odonata Collection, Lepidoptera Collection and Coleoptera Collection which all form part of the Insecta Class. Also featured in this division is the Arachnida Class. There are four collections under the department of Vertebrates, namely the Herpetology Collection, the Mammal Collection, Ornithology Collection and Archeazoology Collections. Over and above, the above mentioned collections, constant research in regard to these areas are being done by the research department of the Transvaal Museum.
There is an Information Department that is available through a library, digital information and other information media, and the Transvaal Museum Shop has a variety of informative books and posters available for purchase. The Transvaal Museum has a vast range of displays and exhibits, which are educational and interesting. The Transvaal Museum has two spacious auditoriums and a hall available for functions, educational presentations and temporary exhibits.
User Comments & Reviews
2010-03-08 07:23:08
Dear Antoinette, I'mj not an invertebrate specialist, but I would presume that one could find brachiopods there. My concern is that you might have unknowingly removed some of the fossils. Fossils are potected by law and you need a permit to collect and remove fossils. Info on fossils can be found in several local publications, if you are a student your local University librarian can do an online search for you. There ia also a very good journal called Palaeontologia africana that is packed with fossil papers from local fossils.. Hope this helps. Heidi
2009-10-17 21:34:01
I recently found some fossils in the Karoo near Ladismith. Brachiopods, etc. from the Devonian era. Would like to know if these are common to this area / SA. Could not find any records of SA finds. Regards Antoinette
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