Ladysmith Siege Museum

The Ladysmith Siege Museum (Ladysmith) stands on the Murchison Street of the little country town of Ladysmith, situated on the perimeter of the Battlefields Route. It is situated right next to another important building of the town, the Ladysmith Town Hall. The building where the Ladysmith Siege Museum is housed was built in 1884. The museum is known for the black and white photographs, artifacts, and other documents which recreate the Anglo Boer Wars fought in the period of 1880 – 1881. The Anglo Boer Wars represent the two wars which were fought between the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State, and the British Empire. In 1899, when Ladysmith was under siege from the Boer forces, the town was blocked without any communication and water supply. This left the people starving and many died before the siege could be broken. The Ladysmith Siege Museum served different purposes at different times. The building acted as civilian’s ration post during the siege. Then it acted as a marketplace, library and museum. It was in 1985 that the building was completely turned into a museum. The Ladysmith Siege Museum is often regarded by the tourists as the best war museum.