The Natal MuseumThe Natal Museum and other museums in PietermaritzburgThe Natal Museum and other museums in Pietermaritzburg. The Natal Museum in Loop Street has impressive displays of natural history, African ethnology, a Gandhi collection and a Hall of Natal History. Bushman paintings, and guns retrieved from a Portuguese shipwreck on the Transkei coast, attract much interest. A shale stone building in Church Street became Bishop Colenso's cathedral in 1857 after his doctrinal rebellion caused a split in the colony's Church of England congregation. Known as St Peter's, it is now a church museum with Colenso's tomb in front of the altar. A splendid Victorian museum reflecting early British settler life is housed in Macrorie House, the former residence of William Macrorie who served as bishop of Pietermaritzburg from 1869 to 1891. One of the highlights is the bishop's miniature chapel complete with altar and ornamental screen. A museum of much more recent origin is located in Comrades Marathon House, the headquarters of this road race. In addition to the Voortrekker Museum in Church Street, The Natal Museum is one of the country's five national museums. |
