Johannesburg’s cultural history spans a range of themes: Constitution Hill connects prison history with the path to democracy, the Market Theatre is associated with an important theatre history, and MuseuMAfricA focuses on the city’s development in the 20th century. If you are looking for a hotel in Johannesburg, these areas of interest can help you plan your visits and allocate time for them.
Constitution Hill: History and Two Tours to Choose From
The Old Fort was built in 1893 as Johannesburg’s first prison and briefly served as a military fort after the Jameson Raid. Winnie Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Albertina Sisulu, Fatima Meer and Nelson Mandela were imprisoned at Constitution Hill’s Old Fort Prison Complex. The site’s history thus extends from its use as a prison and military fort to the personal stories of those held there.
Constitution Hill offers a one-hour Highlights Tour and a two-hour Full Tour. The difference in duration gives you a concrete guide for planning your time: you can decide whether the shorter or more detailed of the two guided tours is a better fit for your stay.
Constitution Hill has secure underground parking on levels C and D of the car park on Joubert Street. As availability and regulations may change, check the current parking arrangements before your visit.
Theatre and the City’s History
The Market Theatre was known as the first integrated theatre and played an important role in the struggle against apartheid by encouraging debate and challenging ideas. MuseuMAfricA offers a different focus: its permanent exhibitions cover Johannesburg’s history and changes in the 20th century, including the effects of gold on workers and their path to political freedom. Together, the two sites offer different ways to explore culture and social change.
In the wider destination of City Of Johannesburg, the Apartheid Museum illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid. Its permanent exhibition traces South Africa’s history from the dark days of oppression to a place of healing shaped by the principles of democracy. This perspective adds another historical focus to the urban and theatrical histories explored in Johannesburg.
In the wider destination of City Of Johannesburg, the Origins Centre’s interactive exhibitions explore the origins of humanity in Africa and the development of technology, art, culture and symbolism. They also explore the diverse rock art traditions of South Africa. This means the cultural themes across the wider destination of City Of Johannesburg range from early origins and forms of expression to more recent political history.
In the wider destination of City Of Johannesburg, the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum in Orlando West, Soweto, commemorates the schoolchildren who took part in the 1976 Soweto Uprising. This historical connection sets the memorial site apart from Constitution Hill’s prison history and MuseuMAfricA’s focus on Johannesburg’s development in the 20th century.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests and Available Time
To plan your visit, you can start by distinguishing between the themes: Constitution Hill combines the history of the Old Fort with two tours of different durations; the Market Theatre and MuseuMAfricA represent theatre history, debate and social change. The additional institutions in the wider destination of City Of Johannesburg broaden the perspective to include apartheid, democracy, early cultural history and 1976. Consider which of these perspectives matter to you and how much time you would like to spend on the two-hour Full Tour.
Before your visit, check the latest information about the tours and, if you are travelling by car, the parking options at Constitution Hill.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Rosebank, Melville, Mondeor, Midrand, Randburg, Lenasia, Lethabong, Soweto.
For the wider travel overview: City Of Johannesburg.
