Free State provincial article - South African Vacations

leader, General CR de Wet, President and Mrs MT Steyn and the Reverend JD Kestell are
buried at the foot of the monument.
Presidency: The presidents of the former Republic of the Free State used the stately old
Presidency, built in 1885, by Lennox Canning, as their official residence. The building has
since been restored and is now a museum. It is situated in President Brand Street.
President Brand Cemetery: Many of the men, women and children who lost their lives
during the Anglo-Boer War lie buried, with former State Presidents, in the President Brand
Cemetery on the corner of Church Street and President Avenue. The row upon row of
metal crosses are a stark reminder of the tragedy of war.
President Brand Street: A trip down President Brand Street will take you past stately
sandstone buildings such as the Old Presidency, Supreme Court, Appeal Court, Fourth
Raadsaal, City Hall, Literature Museum, Hertzog Square and the statue of the Anglo-Boer
War hero, General Christiaan de Wet. This charming tree-lined street, with its many
historical buildings, has been declared a National monument.
Rugby Museum: The Rugby Museum houses one of the largest private collections of rugby
memorabilia in the world and may be visited by prior appointment with the owner.
Queen’s Fort Military Museum: The Queen’s Fort Military Museum, in Church Street,
depicts all the military conflicts that raged in the Free State and features exhibits dating
from 1820 to the present. The fort was originally erected in 1848 by Boer forces to help
withstand attacks by local Basotho tribes.
School of Armour: The school has a fine display of weapons and tanks and an early military
hospital.
Supreme Court Building: The Supreme Court Building in President Brand Street was built in
1909 in the Ionic style. Its fluted columns are typical of this classical "temple" style
architecture.
Twin-spired Church: The twin-spired church, in Charles Street, is the only twin-spired Dutch
Reformed Church in Southern Africa. The building was completed in 1880 on the site of a
smaller church where the famous Scottish-born evangelist and writer Andrew Murray
ministered. The last three presidents of the old Free State Republic took their oath of office
in this church.
Unit Museum: The Unit Museum, at the Tempe Military Base, commemorates the efforts of
the “One Special Service Battalion”. This special battalion was created to encourage and
employ the many despondent young men who were unemployed as a result of the raging
Depression of the 1930s.
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University of the Free State: The campus of the
University of the Free State has an interesting
mixture of old and new buildings.
Vintage Vehicle Collection: The Vintage
Vehicle Collection consists of a collection of
vintage and classical cars, motorcycles and
other motor memorabilia of the past 100 years.
Visits can only be arranged by prior
appointment with the owner.