THE MUSEUM
PREAMBLE
A warm welcome awaits you at Mutare Museum. Spend your time in a charming atmosphere in peaceful surroundings of Mutare in the Eastern Highlands. We boast of being the Nation’s leader in Transport and Antiquities collection.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The present beautiful and enriching Museum that opened its doors to the public in 1964 greatly owes its existence to the wisdom of the Umtali Museum Society. The members mooted the idea of having a museum in town in 1953. Their first museum was located in a wood and corrugated iron building west of the current building. It started as a general museum and subsequently developed into one which specializes in the collection of transport and antiquities. These are complemented by archaeological, zoological and botanical collections which are either on display or secured in collections storage. The departments are responsible for documentation, conservation, research, publications and exhibition. Bona fide researchers can access those collections in storage. The service departments are Education, Display, Maintenance and Administration.
TRANSPORT
The main indoor and outdoor exhibitions are dedicated to the history of land transport. On display are animal drawn transport, early tractors, vintage and later motor vehicles, plus two locomotive engines. Outstanding is the massive 1896 Bow McLachlan traction engine in front of the museum. This prominent road locomotive was one of the two engines specially made for the Manica Trading Company. It was used to transport goods from Chimoio to Harare using wagons in town and later for haulage on various mines.
Traction engine
Among the early tractors is the 1903 Ivel, the first motorized tractor imported into Zimbabwe. This is the second oldest tractor still in existence the world over. It is claimed to be the first successful internal combustion engine farm tractor. It ran on petrol, paraffin, alcohol or kerosene.
Ivel tractor
Latest additions include the Leopard and Jackal military vehicles used by Rhodesian forces during the Liberation War (1966-1980).
ANTIQUITIES
Antiquities at Mutare Museum are defined as manmade objects of cultural significance kept for their beauty, workmanship, scientific and social importance. These include ethnographic, numismatics, arms, tools and equipment for scientific production and recreational purposes.
The main gallery devoted to antiquities is the Beit Gallery, housing archaeological and ethnographic collections. The archaeological
section covers the Stone and Iron Age cultures in the region.
Exhibited are artifacts from local cultural heritage sites.
Later hunter-gatherer rock art. Diana’s Vow, Rusape The ethnographic display consists of modern crafts, traditional utensils, ritual objects and musical instruments.
The Boultbee Gallery named after the first Honorary Curator of the Museum Capt. E.F. Boultbee displays a magnificent collection of firearms and edged weapons. This collection encompassing guns, swords and bayonets from all parts of the world, spanning over three centuries, is acknowledged as one of the finest of its type in southern Africa.
Zimbabwe’s Liberation war is captured in this gallery as well through some of the popular weaponry in the struggle for justice and equal rights.
The liberation struggle
NATURAL HISTORY
Life science collections are displayed mainly in the Eastern Districts and Mezzanine galleries. The galleries give an overview of the flora and fauna of Zimbabwe, with special emphasis on the eastern districts of the country.
The attractive dioramas and displays of stuffed animals in their natural habitats are complemented by several exhibits of live birds, fishes, bees and snakes. Attached to the museum building is a large Aviary containing a wide variety of indigenous birds which can be viewed at close range from a balcony. A breath taking hive of bees is on display. The intricate behaviour of bees can be watched in perfect safety.
RESEARCH COLLECTIONS
The museum conducts research in three areas of Antiquities, Archaeology and Botany/Zoology. The main research collection is the National collection of Antiquities. This comprises historical artifacts of a great variety and worldwide origin which represent technological changes and development over many hundreds of years.
Camera and hand loom
In addition there are small reference collections of natural history specimens from Manicaland including birds, snakes, insects, eggs and the famous Chase Herbarium. Although the museum does not hold an archaeological collection a lot of research is conducted on the early history of Manicaland.
The museum is also responsible for the maintenance and development of all National Monuments in the Eastern Region. These are mainly of cultural and historical significance and often set in scenic surroundings. Some of these are historic buildings in Mutare urban such as Utopia House Museum and Kopje House, and ancient stone fortifications and structures in Nyanga, Rusape and Buhera.
Utopia House Museum
Matendera ruins, Buhera
SERVICES PROVIDED
● Guided Tours/Lectures
● Temporary exhibitions/Library
● Research and publication
● Museum based events and activities such as International Museum Day
celebrations, seminars and quiz.
● Outreach Programmes to rural Communities such as Site Adoption and
Mobile Museum services.
● Management and Interpretation of National Heritage of Zimbabwe.
● Auditorium hire for company/business meetings/workshops
● Environmental impact assessments for planners and developers
● Identification of plant and animal specimens
● Removing bees/snakes etc from homesteads
OPENING HOURS
The Museum is open to the public from: 9:00am to 5:00pm daily except on Good Friday and Christmas day holidays.
Enquire at the reception about the different rates of entrance fees, which change from time to time.
Head Office,Executive Director 107 Rotten Row ,Penrose Hill P.O Box CY 1485 |
Regional Office (Eastern) The Director , Mutare Museum P.O Box 920 |