Last Updated on April 28, 2021
The Hector Pieterson Museum is packed with thoughtful, often brutal, reminders of South Africa’s history.
The museum honors the Sowetan schoolchildren slain in a police massacre in 1976 and also chronicles the birth of Apartheid from the premise to the long term effects it has had on the country.
This is a very well-done and laid out museum full of video, artifacts and pictures of an extremely difficult time in South Africa. The museum is very powerful and moving as you realize these events really did occur. It was very confronting for us, very saddening and a tough pill to swallow.
There is a lot of reading to understand the photos and exhibits, so ensure you have allotted at least a couple hours to get even a basic understanding of South African History. The museum houses chilling detail of an era that will never be forgotten by South Africans.
To better understand South African history, this is a great place to visit.
Prepare to be emotionally drained.
This is a story that deserves to be told and is done so in a modern, educational fashion. The circumstances that lead to the death of young Hector was clearly depicted and absolutely heart breaking.
Outside the Hector Pieterson Museum is a memorial dedicated to Hector Pieterson, showing the 1976 photograph of the slain thirteen year old being carried by a friend while his grieving sister ran alongside. It is a chilling photograph, leaving you wondering what the streets were like on that day.
The history and meaning of this area cannot be understated.
* They do ask you to not take photos inside the museum, which we respected. All photos above are from the outside memorial.
What is the most moving memorial you have visited?