CP Nel Museum
Encyclopedia
CP Nel Museum is an ostrich
museum
on 3 Baron van Rheede Street in the town of Oudtshoorn in South Africa
.
The building, formerly the Boys High School
of Oudtshoorn, was designed in 1906 by a local architect
Charles Bullock. Its green domed sandstone
facade
is considered one of the finest examples of stone masonry
anywhere in South Africa
. The school hall was designed in 1913 by J.E. Vixseboxse.
The museum was named in honour of its founder Colonel C.P Nel. A series of diorama
s traces the history of ostrich
es and the impact of ostrich farming on the town and its community. Displays in the museum also depict the cultural history
and the lifestyle of the people of the Klein Karoo region, and the museum prides itself on its replica of an early 20th century pharmacy
. There is a section of the museum devoted to the role of the Jewish community in the development of Oudtshoorn's feather industry.
The museum was declared a national monument
in 1981.
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
on 3 Baron van Rheede Street in the town of Oudtshoorn in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
The building, formerly the Boys High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
of Oudtshoorn, was designed in 1906 by a local architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Charles Bullock. Its green domed sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
is considered one of the finest examples of stone masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
anywhere in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The school hall was designed in 1913 by J.E. Vixseboxse.
The museum was named in honour of its founder Colonel C.P Nel. A series of diorama
Diorama
The word diorama can either refer to a nineteenth century mobile theatre device, or, in modern usage, a three-dimensional full-size or miniature model, sometimes enclosed in a glass showcase for a museum...
s traces the history of ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
es and the impact of ostrich farming on the town and its community. Displays in the museum also depict the cultural history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and the lifestyle of the people of the Klein Karoo region, and the museum prides itself on its replica of an early 20th century pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
. There is a section of the museum devoted to the role of the Jewish community in the development of Oudtshoorn's feather industry.
The museum was declared a national monument
National heritage sites (South Africa)
National heritage sites in South Africa are structures or defined areas of land declared to be of historic or cultural importance and granted certain legal protections...
in 1981.