Dating back to 1679, The Slave Lodge is one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town and its foundations have seen several masters since its original gory use. The Gardens were worked by over 300 slaves, conveniently supplied by the Slave Lodge at the entrance to the Gardens.

Exhibitions at the Slave Lodge

The Khoekhoe, focusing on the lifestyle of the original inhabitants of the Cape.

The history of the Slave Lodge. The highlight of this exhibition is the model of the Lodge based on a 1798 plan by Wildt

Ancient and Classical Cultures. Included are artefacts from the Petrie-excavations in Egypt, cuneiform tablets from Neo-Babylonian origin, Black-on-Red and Red-on-black Greek vases and Roman glass clay lamps.

Exhibitions on Ancient China and Japan as well as South East Asia. The Cape have strong cultural links with South East Asia and many South Africans are descendents of slaves and political exiles that were brought to the Cape by the Dutch East India Company.

Arms and armour ranging from traditional African weapons, antique flintlock muskets, body armour to modern zip guns used in townships as well as unique stabbing weapons from India and Iran.

The history of Cape Town.

The history of the Cape Colony from a colonial perspective. This exhibition includes the unique postal stone collection. Postal stones were used by passing ships as temporary post offices at the Cape before colonisation. The name of the ship and date of the visit were engraved on the stones, providing historians with a record of passing ships.

Money in Africa.

Ceramics, ranging from Chinese ceramics to modern South African studio ceramics as well as pieces from townships around Cape Town

Silverware that includes rare Cape silver, and English, Russian and Malaysian silver items.

A costume exhibition

Nineteenth-century chemist shop

The People’s Collection, a diverse collection donated by various Cape Town organizations and individuals in 2000-2001 as a documentation of life at the Cape at the turn of the century.

Musical instruments

Very rare and valuable Dutch antique clocks.

Paintings.