Welcome to the

Durban History Museum

Explore

Our eight museums

Bergtheil Museum, housed in Westville's oldest building

Bergtheil Museum

Westville's oldest building (c.1840), telling the story of Natal's German settlers.

→ Exhibition display at Cato Manor Heritage Centre

Cato Manor Heritage Centre

A record of forced removals, rebellion and a resilient multi-cultural community.

→ Exhibition display at KwaMuhle Museum

KwaMuhle Museum

Former Native Administration offices, now examining the Durban System and its legacy.

→ Exhibition display at Mpumalanga Heritage Museum

Mpumalanga Heritage Museum

A site of memory for Hammarsdale, from political conflict to peace and democracy.

→ Old Court House Museum exterior

Old Court House Museum

Durban's oldest public building, loop-holed during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.

→ Exterior of the Old House Museum

Old House Museum

The Natal Settlers Museum, a Victorian home recreating early settler domestic life.

→ Exhibition display at Pinetown Museum

Pinetown Museum

Anthropology, Zulu material culture and settler history in the Pinetown Library.

→ Exhibition at Port Natal Maritime Museum

Port Natal Maritime Museum

Moored vessels and stories from Durban's seafaring heritage on the harbour.

→

About

Gateway to KwaZulu-Natal's heritage

Durban is the gateway to KwaZulu-Natal's rich multi-cultural heritage. The collections, exhibitions and programmes at the Durban Local History Museums provide a captivating window into eThekwini's diverse history and rich cultural heritage.

Across eight museums — from a Victorian settler cottage to a working harbour tugboat — the collections trace settlement, segregation, resistance and the everyday lives of the people who built this city.

Historic photograph representing Durban's heritage collections