The idea to erect this building came after the Battle of Boomplaats (fought near Jagersfontein between the British and the Voortrekker on 28 August 1848).

When a new Captain - FW Albrecht - was appointed as a commander of the Orange Free State Artillery in 1879, he ensured that the Fort was entirely rebuilt.

David Pratt who shot the then South African Prime Minister – Hendrik Verwoerd twice at point blank range with a .22 pistol, was incarcerated at the Fort.

Pratt was found to not be held criminally liable for shooting the prime minister after reports from five different psychiatrists.

[6] In 1972, the Fort was used as the base of the South African Defence Force and changed its operations into a museum.

The declaration covers the arched entrance, earth banks and rampart walls, the museum building and land within the rampart walls, the old stable, the canon store and the dwelling house known as Blue Lodge situated on erf 1915.

[8] The museum depicts all major military conflicts in the Free State from 1820, as well as the struggle against apartheid.