DITSONG: Sammy Marks Museum

credit: https://ditsong.org.za/en/our-museums/sammy-marks-museum/

AVAILABLE: Guided Tours | Family Friendly | OPEN: Tuesday – Sunday | MORE INFO: Museum Website | Facebook Page

Table of Contents

Introduction

Nestled in the picturesque Zwartkoppies, just outside Pretoria, lies the DITSONG Sammy Marks Museum. It is a place where history and beauty converge to create an unforgettable experience. If you’re a lover of history or just looking for a unique and interesting place to visit, the Sammy Marks Museum is definitely worth a visit.

About the Museum

The DITSONG Sammy Marks Museum is a Victorian mansion that was once the home of businessman and entrepreneur Sammy Marks and his family. The mansion is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture, with ornate ceilings, exquisite furniture, and stunning works of art. The museum offers guided tours of the Marks Mansion, which take visitors back in time to the Victorian Age. Visitors will learn about Sammy Marks and his family, their experiences during the South African War, and Marks’s achievements as a businessman and entrepreneur.

One of the most unique aspects of the museum is that 98% of the household contents in the mansion originally belonged to the Marks family. Visitors can see beautiful Victorian silver, porcelain, and furniture during their tour. The mansion’s billiard room is particularly noteworthy, as the paintings on the ceiling were done on silk and pasted on.

Interesting Facts

The story of how the Sammy Marks Museum came to be is just as fascinating as the museum itself. After Sammy Marks’s death, his widow and children inhabited Zwartkoppies Hall until the last one passed away in 1978.
No one in the family wished to live at Zwartkoppies permanently due to its ageing and deteriorating structure. It was then offered as a nursing home, school, army barracks, and hotel, but none of these proposals came to fruition.
In March 1989, Zwartkoppies was declared a national monument, and in 1995, roughly 73 hectares surrounding the house, upon which all of the historical buildings are situated, was sold to the National Cultural History Museum.

Physical Location

Conclusion

The DITSONG Sammy Marks Museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in history or Victorian architecture. With its beautiful furnishings, ornate ceilings, and fascinating history, the museum is a unique and unforgettable experience. The guided tours and educational programs provide an opportunity to learn about Sammy Marks and his family, their experiences during the South African War, and Marks’s achievements as a businessman and entrepreneur.