Cape Medical Museum

The Cape Medical Museum is a medical history museum in Green Point that displays collections of surgical instruments, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical items from different periods of South African medical history. The building occupies part of the former Old City Hospital Complex and makes the development of medical technology and practice visible.

The museum was founded in 1981 by Professor J C De Villiers and volunteers, documenting South African medical development from the early 1900s onward. The collection reflects how medical techniques and equipment changed over decades of practice and innovation.

The exhibits show how medical practices developed in South Africa, from traditional African healing methods to modern surgical techniques. Visitors can see how different healing traditions came together in one place and influenced each other over time.

The museum is accessible by public transport and sits in an active neighborhood with cafes and shops nearby. Visitors should plan for about two to three hours to explore the exhibits at a comfortable pace.

The museum contains reconstructed medical spaces such as a 1910 pharmacy, an early 20th-century hospital ward, and a period operating theater. These recreations allow visitors to understand how medical work actually happened in earlier times.

Location: City of Cape Town

Inception: September 24, 1981

GPS coordinates: -33.90718,18.41477

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:09