District Six Museum

Guide to Cape Town, South Africa

"A mainland museum dedicated to documenting and interpreting the forced removals and social history of a community displaced under apartheid, offering visitors an important, localized perspective on racial segregation and its impacts." - Katie Jackson Katie Jackson Katie Jackson is a New York City-based writer who covers travel, food, and more. Her work has appeared in USA Today, The Sunday Times, Esquire, Outside, New York Post, and Travel + Leisure, among others. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

"District Six was originally a mixed community of freed slaves, merchants, artisans, laborers, and immigrants. Marginalization and forced removal of the residents began early in the last century and, in 1966, the neighborhood was declared a white area. By 1982, more than 60,000 people had been relocated to a barren spot aptly known as the Cape Flats, and their houses in District Six were flattened by bulldozers. An agreement about what to do with the land that was District Six has yet to be reached, and those who were forcibly evicted are still awaiting a fair settlement. Established in 1994, the District Six Museum preserves memories of the area through photographs, traffic signs, and videos, and also focuses on forced removals in general. A large map of the district covers the floor of the museum and includes former residents' handwritten notes about where they once lived."

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"The District Six Museum tells the heartbreaking narrative of a vibrant multiracial neighborhood whose members were forcibly removed during Apartheid in the 1960s. Located in a former church in downtown Cape Town, the museum invites viewers to observe the struggle of the District’s Six inhabitants, before and after they were involuntarily relocated. It’s a small and intimate space that offers a sobering reflection on one of the many tragic tales during this era of South African history." - Mary Holland

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"District Six was a vibrant, mixed-race community in Cape Town until its residents were forcibly evicted by the apartheid government in the 1970s. The original residents have dispersed far and wide, and now this intimate museum stands as a memorial to them. The entire collection of the two-story venue is created from personal artifacts from former residents: pictures, artwork, letters, news clippings, and narrations recorded on tape. While it's certainly not off the beaten path, it makes for a poignant counterpart to Robben Island, allowing you to understand some of what common people endured during apartheid." - Sarah Khan

District Six Museum

"Give us some of the background before we step inside the museum.District Six was a vibrant, mixed-race community in Cape Town until its residents were forcibly evicted by the apartheid government in the 1970s. The original residents have dispersed far and wide, and now this intimate museum stands as a memorial to them. The entire collection of the two-story venue is created from personal artifacts of former residents: pictures, artwork, letters, news clippings, and narrations recorded on tape. While it's certainly not off the beaten path, many first timers or those on a tight schedule don't make it here, prioritizing Robben Island instead. But a visit makes for a poignant counterpart to Robben Island, allowing you to understand some of what common people endured during apartheid. Got it. So what will we find inside?It's a wide-reaching mix: personal mementos of people who lived in District Six or things that were popular at the time—lots of pictures and personal touches to illustrate how diverse and vibrant the neighborhood once was. There's a recreated bedroom, a beauty parlor, and other quotidian elements to help you visualize life in that era. Then there are also newspaper stories explaining what happened next, as well as moving stories and recollections from former residents about the pain they experienced when they were forced out of their homes. What were the physical grounds of the museum like?The space is intimate, but open and airy: The exhibitions occupy the ground floor and on an upstairs balcony. The museum is very clearly marked and easy to navigate. It isn't that big; you basically round each of the two levels in a circle, so it's hard to go astray. Who else was browsing the collection with you?Mostly out-of-town visitors. The museum is never too crowded; rather, it's always quiet and comfortable to move through. You can go as quickly or slowly as you want. Tell us about the museum tour.Tours cost a nominal fee: about a dollar on top of the regular ticket is 40 rand, or $3, admission fee. Guides are typically former residents, which makes an already personal experience that much more personal. If we're crunched for time, how best can we strategize a visit?You can breeze through the two laps, read a few captions and news reports, and still get a general understanding of the community's struggles." - Sarah Khan