Iziko Slave Lodge

Slave Lodge is a monument to the thousands of slaves who were housed in this building in the past, as well as all the slaves in the colony. It is located in Cape Towns City Centre at Church Square in Spin Street. It was named in 1998 but prior to that the building which is the second oldest buildings in the land, was known by many other names like Government Offices Building, Old Supreme Court, and SA Cultural History Museum. Slave Lodge is located on the corner of Adderley and Wale streets in Cape Town and is a firm favourite with tourists who visit Cape Town.

Permanent exhibitions

  • From Human Wrongs to Human Rights - this is an ongoing exhibition that is added to, and changed from time to time, but always in keeping with human rights and is situated on the lower level of the museum
  • Slave Origins – Cultural Echoes
  • Remembering Slavery

Current exhibitions

  • Material women? The "shweshwe" story
  • Singing Freedom - music and the struggle against apartheid

The Upper Galleries

Most of the exhibitions do not relate to the Slave theme but are older articles that are still of interest to the public such as:

  • South African ceramics - from the 20th century and contemporary works of Ceramic Studio and also Linn Ware objects
  • Silverware
  • Egyptology collections
  • Mullne Collection

Activities

  • Audio Guided Tour - available for hire for a nominal fee and helping the visitor to understand the sub human conditions that the slaves had to endure
  • Venue for hire - Lecture Hall can be hired for luncheon meetings, cocktail parties and conferences
  • Courtyard - steeped in history is also available in good weather

Facilities

  • School Groups - the museum has educators available for school groups and the information regarding this facility is on the website mentioned in the contact details of this pag.
  • Brochures and publications are on sale at the museum's reception office.

Future Plans

More focus will be applied to incorporate national heritage and history and the upper area will be renewed

History

1679 – Slave Lodge was built as a slave lodge for the Dutch East India Company and thousands of slaves and mentally ill people lived there until 1811

1810 – The building was modified to accommodate government offices and later also used for many purposes including the first library and post office, Deeds office, Cape Supreme Court and many more

1960 – The building was restored as a cultural history museum

1966 – Opening of the SA Cultural History Museum

1998 – The museum was renamed the Slave Lodge

Hours

Please confirm with museum as the hours can change without prior notification

Monday to Saturday, 10h00 – 17h00

Closed, Sundays, Workers Day, Good Friday and Christmas Day

Admission

Please consult their website under Contact Details.

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