Natural History Museum - Construction
History of the Natural History Museum
In 1901 when Cecil Rhodes visited Bulawayo for the last time he received
two requests, the first from the Chamber of Mines to appoint a Geologist
and the second from the Rhodesia Scientific Board who wanted a museum to
house their growing collection of minerals. It was suggested that the
two bodies get together and on 1st January 1902 The Rhodesia Museum came
into being. Mr F.P. Mennell a Geologist, after which the Geology Gallery
is named, took up his post as the first Curator. Initially the ‘new’
museum occupied a room at the Bulawayo Public Library which the growing
collections soon got too small for.
In 1905 the Museum Committee bought and moved to the former Congregation
Chapel. This, the second museum was opened by Professor G Darwin,
President of the British Association in September 1905.
In 1910 a much larger building on the north-east corner of Fort Street
and 8th Avenue (now the Parcels Office) was donated to the Museum
Committee by the British South African Company. This, the third
museum was informally
opened on 21st August 1910, although it was not until late November that
it was officially opened by the Duke of Connaught, son of Queen
Victoria.
As the museum continued to grow so the impressive 8th Avenue frontage,
the fourth museum, was built in 1922. Designed by Sir Herbert Baker, the
entrance porch initially doubled up as the cenotaph. Further extensions
were added in 1930 and 1936. In 1936 the Government acquired the museum
that was renamed the National Museum of Rhodesia.
The Bulawayo City Council made available land in Centenary Park and the
present building begun in 1960 is the fifth museum. The unique round
museum was opened to the public on 20th March 1964 but completion of new
public galleries and individual displayed has continued up to the
present time.
1st Museum - 1902 a room in the Bulawayo Public Library
2nd Museum - 1905 Congregation Chapel
3rd Museum - 1910 north-east corner of Fort Street and 8th
Avenue
4th Museum - 1922 8th Avenue
(extensions 1930 and
1936)
5th Museum - 1960 in Centenary Park
