Mutare Museum
The Mutare Museum is located in the city of Mutare, which is the capital of the Manicaland province in Zimbabwe.
The idea of a Museum for Mutare is believed to have originated on the 22nd of October ,1953,at an Annual General meeting of the Manicaland Branch of the Southern Rhodesia Hunters and Game preservation Association, when a subcommittee was set up to investigate the possibility of the establishment of a museum in Mutare.On the 1st of November 1957, the Municipality of Umtali (now Mutare) made available to the Museum Society the dining room and kitchen section of the old Silver Oaks Hostel, a wood and corrugated iron building in Victory Avenue just above the present Museum site. The move from the old building was completed on the 11th October, 1962. Displays in all galleries of the new Mutare Museum were completed in time for the official opening by Sir Alfred Beit, on 13th September, 1964.
The present day museum is constituted of sets of departments namely; Research departments and Service departments. Research departments comprise of Archaeology, Antiquities and Botany and Zoology which are complemented by Service departments comprised of Accounts, Exhibition, and Heritage Education, Human Resources, Maintenance and Marketing departments.
The museum has several galleries that showcase the history, culture, and natural heritage of the Manicaland region in particular, and Zimbabwe in general. Some of the exhibits include traditional crafts, cultural artefacts, and historical photographs. The museum also has a collection of geological specimens, including rocks and minerals from the diamond mines in the region. It also features exhibits about the pre-colonial and colonial eras of Zimbabwe, including displays on the traditional practices of the local communities, the history of the local diamond mining industry, and the role of the railroad in connecting Zimbabwe to the rest of the world
The museum houses a collection of traditional crafts and art, including pottery, basketry, and woodcarvings. Visitors to the Mutare Museum can gain insight into the rich cultural heritage of the people of Zimbabwe, as well as their economic, political, and social development over time.
In addition to the galleries, the Mutare Museum also has a library and a research centre that provides resources for scholars and researchers interested in the history and culture of Zimbabwe.
Visiting the Mutare Museum is a great way to learn about the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Manicaland region. The museum is open to the public from Monday to Friday and has a small admission fee.
Mutare Museum is under the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe. The museum is located a stone throw away from the city centre at Number 3 Aerodrome Road, Mutare. If coming from Harare you find the museum on the A3 main Harare to Mutare Road, on entering Mutare pass the BP garage on the right, 1.50 KM turn left at the roundabout intersection with Aerodrome Road, 1.84 KM the Mutare Museum is on the right side of the road.
You can contact Mutare Museum by phone using number +263 2020 63630
Click here to read detailed Mutare Museum here https://visitmanicaland.co.zw/mutare_museum_history