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A variety of museums, including the National Museum, Hertzog House, First Raadsaal, Old Presidency, Queens Fort Military Museum, Freshford House, War Museum, Free State Education Museum, Unit Museum of 1 Special Service Battalion, Jukskei Museum of Hercules Taljaard, National Literature Museum, Rugby Museum of Choet Visser, Free State Agricultural Museum and the SA Armour Museum. Oliewenhuis Art Gallery, a neo-Cape Dutch manor house originally erected to house governors, and later state presidents – during their visits to Bloemfontein.
Educational institutions, such as the University of the Free State; Central University of Technology; Bloemfontein Public Library; Hertzog Square and Hoffman Square; The historic sandstone buildings in President Brand Street such as the Court of Appeal, Fourth Raadsaal, City Hall and the Supreme Court.
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A variety of attractions await the visitor to the friendly city, from the unique blend of gracious old world charm to ultramodern, high-tech sophistication.
The Civic Center, a modern glass building which serves as the headquarters of the city council, inaugurated in 1991, boasts modern conference facilities, which include, among others, three auditoriums and carious reception areas.
The Sand du Plessis Theatre, as one of the world’s most modern and technically advanced theatres, is breathtakingly beautiful, glittering in glamorous gold and magnificent marble.
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The original fountain was frequented by game, and known as Mnaung (Place of the Leopards) by the local tribes. In 1840 Johannes Brits was the first person to settle in the vicinity.In 1846, Major Henry Douglas Warden, who built a tiny fort of mud and stones, bought the farm. The fort was named Fort Drury, but there are no remains left today. After 1848, another fort was built on one of the dominant hills. It was called Queen’s Fort. During this time Bloemfontein served as the key British military base on the ventral plains of South Africa. The British abandoned the town in 1854, and the flag of the new Republic of Orange Free State was raised. Bloemfontein remained the capital until the defeat in the Anglo Boer War.
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