Brief history:

Zwartkoppies Hall, a Victorian mansion dating from 1885, was the residence of the Jewish magnate s doors to the public. In 1995 roughly 73ha surrounding the house and upon which all of the historical buildings are siSammy Marks, who made significant conributions to the industrial, mining and agricultural development of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek and early Union of SA. After Marks’ death, his widow and some of the children inhabited the house until the death of the last one in 1978. After a period during which it was looked after by caretakers, the family realized it was deteriorating and a suitable tenant was sought. Eventually in 1984 an agreement was reached with the National Cultural History Museum according to which the government was to buy the contents of the house from the estate, restore the house and rent it from the family trust. In 1986 the Sammy Marks Museum opened its doors to the public. In 1995 roughly 73ha surrounding the house and upon which all of the historical buildings are situated, was cut from the rest of the farm and sold to the National Cultural History Museum.

Acquisitions policy:
The Museum’s collection consists of the possessions of the Marks family and as such few new acquisitions are made.

Areas of specialisation: Victoriana, the history of the Marks family, Marks’ relation to Paul Kruger and Marks’ contribution to the industrial development of the ZAR.

Sammy Marks Core holdings:

House: the Museum’s collection dates mostly from the late-nineteenth century until Sammy Marks’ death in 1920. Good examples of Victorian silver, glass, porcelain and furniture are exhibited in the Museum, recreating an authentic Victorian interior. Library: The library consists of the original library of books collected by the Marks family and covers topics from history, mining, agriculture, farming, horticulture, religion, industry to romantic novels and poetry.

Photograph collection: A huge collection of photographs is housed in the archive, many of which are studio portraits of family members, relatives and friends, some unidentified, as well as pictures of Zwartkoppies and other places and activities.

What to do:

*Meet Sammy Marks and his family and view the splendid Victorian house, its contents and its surroundings:

*Guided tours through a splendid Victorian house
Nostalgic Victorian garden tour -
Guided tours:
Tuesday - Friday: 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30, 16:00
Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays: 10:00 - 17:00
Last tour starts at 16:00

Closed: Good Friday, Christmas Day and Mondays - except Public Holidays

*Play a game of croquet
*Enjoy tea under shady trees in the tea-garden
*Enjoy a Victorian picnic on velvet cushions
*Dinner in the old kitchen
*Musical concerts on croquet lawn
*A ghost evening - meet the Scottish ghost
Browse in Dolly's shoppe or
*Yesteryear's Nostalgia
*Enjoy a musical evening in the billiard room
*Educational tours with a difference
*Pre-school educational programmes
*Join the entrepreneurial challenge for the youth

How to get there:

Street: Old Bronkhorstspruit Road (R104), Pretoria.

Contact Details:

Postal:
Northern Flagship Institution
Sammy Marks Museum
PO Box 4917
Pretoria
0001

Telephone: (012) 802-1150
Fax: (012) 802-1292

Tel: +27 012 802 1150

Cell: 083 280 3797
Cell: 072 150 1865

Restaurant: +27 012 802 1485