The Kowie Museum

The Kowie Museum

The Kowie Museum
4.5
Speciality MuseumsHistory Museums
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Kowie Museum has moved from the old Railway Station Building in Port Alfred to the Bathurst Agricultural Museum in Bathurst. It covers the history of the Port Alfred area including details of the settler families, an isiXhosa collection, the old harbour, railways, shipwrecks, local insects, and many other exhibits. See the website for details.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles21 reviews
Excellent
14
Very good
6
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0

HelenD0rset
Weymouth, UK65 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2018 • Friends
Really interesting to be able to view the history of Port Alfred and in such a special place as the old railway station. Very good displays and lots of artefacts and the volunteer(s) are knowledgeable and very willing to discuss all and any aspects that are of particular interest to you.
Written 5 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, Helen, for your review. Our Curator and her team are always working on new exhibits, so we would appreciate another visit when you return to Port Alfred. Regards, Rob
Written 9 December 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Grant S
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2017 • Solo
Fantastic little museum in the old train station building. Well kept and full of local history. Certainly worth a visit for only R20.
Written 18 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Grant, thank you for visiting our Museum and for your positive comments. We are fortunate to have a committed team of Trustees, and an excellent Curator. Thank you for spending time with us. Regards... Rob
Written 1 October 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

JBart
Guildford, England9 629 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2017 • Couples
If you want to find out about the history of this town this is the place to go. The people looking after the museum are full of local history and knowledge. Fascinating to hear about the early settlers, the wrecks. The museum takes you from the early days right through to modern times. They deserve support so please visit.
Written 17 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Haije
Leeuwarden, The Netherlands2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019 • Friends
The museum had a great amount of information about Port Alfred. The ladies gave us an interesting guide around the place. Definitely recommend it!
Written 22 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wonita S
Cape Town Central, South Africa2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Family
An absolute must-see for those that are interested in the history of the 1820 Settlers and the Lower Albany area. We managed to spend about an hour in this treasure chest but could have easily spent longer. Yvonne was so helpful and knowledgable on our family history, ship wrecks and much much more. We'll be back again with more family members. From young to old, it has something for everyone!
Written 2 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Wonita, thank you for your excellent review! I am so glad that you enjoyed your visit and found it useful. We look forward to your next visit! Regards, Rob
Written 3 April 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Lesley F
Port Alfred, South Africa5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2017 • Friends
The Kowie History Museum is situated st the Old Station in Port Alfred and its exhibits cover a well thought out mix and variety of the history of Port Alfred such as the wrecks in the area, the Xhosa leaders, the development of the harbour and later the Marina the old railway equipment, the floods. and a variety of artefacts from years gone by. If you want research done on your settler ancestors the staff will assist you with information they have. It is well worth a visit and has friendly knowledgeable staff assist you.
Written 14 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Lesley, Thank you for your positive comments! Our Curator is very knowledgeable and dedicated, and we are fortunate to have an excellent team of Trustees and Museum Helpers. I am glad you enjoyed your visit, and we look forward to seeing you again. Regards... Rob Crothall
Written 18 September 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Carl Haller
Port Elizabeth, South Africa96 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2016 • Family
This is a great initiative showcasing the history of Port Alfred and the surrounding area. This area has a lot of history dating back to the early arrival of the British settlers in 1820. A fascinating storyboard and well worth the time taken to visit.
Written 11 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Carl, Thank you for your visit and your positive review! Regards... Rob
Written 19 April 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

859iainh
Johannesburg, South Africa57 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2017 • Couples
The locals are trying to keep up the great history of the town with little help. The old Station is worth a visit and the old exhibits give you an idea of the great history of the town, one of the few river harbours in South Africa.
Written 14 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, Thank you for your review of the Kowie History Museum - we appreciate your comments. Regards... Rob Crothall
Written 15 February 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Emerson3091
Broomfield, CO529 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016
We really enjoyed this museum. What made it special were the 2 ladies that moved back to PA to retire. They lived in PA when they were children so they were able to provide so much history and stories that made the museum come alive. The history of PA is intriguing from all the shipwrecks to how it got its name. I would allow about 2 hours. They have a very nice and elaborate shell collection and also elegant tea cup collection. I am so glad that we visited this "hidden" treasure.
Written 22 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Emerson3091, Thank you for your positive comments! Our museum is entirely staffed by volunteers, and they enjoy chatting to visitors to the area. Please visit us again when you return to Port Alfred, as our Curator and the "Museum Helpers" are always working on new exhibits. Thank you for visiting our museum! Regards... Rob
Written 24 December 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Samantha C
Port Elizabeth, South Africa12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2015 • Family
A total diamond in the rough. The museum is well run by very informative ladies. We always make it one of our stops on our annual trip to Port Alfred and the kids always find something new to discover.
Written 11 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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THE KOWIE MUSEUM (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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