The National Museum in Bloemfontein dates back to the 1870s, when its collections and displays comprised mainly rarities from around the world.

The old Raadsaal building was made available by the then Free State Volksraad for hosting the Museum collections.

Through donations, purchases and exchange agreements the Museum’s collections slowly got established and grew to a wide variety of natural and human science artefacts.

Intensive research is carried out in these varied disciplines, and valuable and important collections have been established.

Through its displays and education programmes, the Museum renders a public service to its diverse audiences, engaging them in enjoyable and enlightening experiences and enriching the learning opportunities of all individuals.

Florisbad is an internationally important fossil locality which has produced an archaic modern human skull in addition to valuable archaeological and palaeontological material.

In 1980 Florisbad was bought by the South African Government for research purposes and was placed under the administration of the National Museum, Bloemfontein.