Museums In Kenya : Kenya is one of the most famous destinations in the world known for its abundance of wildlife including the Big 5 Animals protected in over 40 national parks, reserves, sanctuaries and conservancies.
In addition to flora and fauna, Kenya has its fair share of international publicity through the exhibition of its historical, scientific, artistic and cultural interests. In Kenya there is a number of museums, monuments and cultural centers across Kenya offering an insight to Kenya’s history and origin with exhibits that date back to the prehistoric era.
Some of the fascinating and stunning museums in Kenya include Nairobi National Museum, Karen Blixen Museum, Fort Jesus Museum, Gedi Ruins and Museum, Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi gallery, Kenya National Archives among many others.
Nairobi National Museum
The Nairobi National Museum is one of the main national museums in Kenya located at the Museum Hill, just a few minutes’ drive from the central district of Nairobi the capital of Kenya. The museum aims at interpreting and showcasing Kenya’s rich heritage to individuals visiting the site for both education and leisure, Nairobi national Museum houses a collection of Kenya’s rich history, nature, culture and contemporary art.
Nairobi National Museum also has Botanical Gardens and Nature trail offering a serene environment, shopping and dining facilities where visitors can enjoy cocktails, conferences and other functions.
Bomas Of Kenya
Bomas of Kenya is a home of Kenya culture and a tourist village located in Langata, Nairobi, this site is the perfect spot to visit if you are wishing to experience the rich diversity of Kenya traditional music and daily through the daily cultural performances.
The Bomas of Kenya were established by the government of Kenya as a tourist attraction to preserve, maintain and promote the rich and diverse cultural values of various tribal groups of Kenya. The Bomas of Kenya displays different aspects of the Kenyan culture including lifestyles, crafts, music and dancing of Kenya groups such as the Maasai, Luo, Kalejin, Kisii, Luhya, kikuyu and Mijikenda among others.
At the site there is the Utamadumi Restaurant serving sumptuous meals from rich cultures of Kenya such as Nyama Choma, mukimo, muthokoi among others.
Karen Blixen Museum
Karen Blixen Museum was once the center piece of a farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills owned by the Danish Author Karen and her Swedish Husband Baron Bror Von Blixen. The Museum is a colonial house and it was a home for Baroness Karen Blixen and her husband, the museum gained fame for the “Out of Africa” film which depicted the life of Karen Blixen in Kenya as per the autobiographical book.
Karen Blixen Museum “the colonial house” was built in 1912 and was bought by the couple in 1917 and since then it became the farm house for their 4,500 acre farm of which 600 acres were used for coffee farming. The museum is located 10 kilometers from the city center of Nairobi, and lies on the foot hills of Ngong Hills.
Visiting the Karen Blixen Museum offers visitors an opportunity to step back in time and get an insight into remarkable life of Karen Blixen and also admire the magnificent views of the Ngong Hills and the beautifully landscaped gardens of the museum.
Fort Jesus Museum
Fort Jesus Museum is a world heritage site located in Mombasa Island, the Coastal province of Kenya and lies in a distance of about 490 kilometers from Nairobi city the capital of Kenya.
Fort Jesus was originally built to guard the old port of Mombasa by the Portuguese in 1593/16th century and was used a place of safety and security for the Portuguese during their time on the Coast. The fort also functioned as a Portuguese military fortification and later converted to a prison when it fell under the British rule in 1895.
Fort Jesus Museum houses a collection of items which have been preserved for over the years dating back to the 14th and 19th century such as ancient Portuguese chair, Persian chest, drums, plates and gourds which were used by the Portuguese and Britain during their time on the coast of Kenya.
Gedi Ruins and Museum
Gedi Ruins and Museum are the remains of a Swahili town located 94 kilometers north of Mombasa Town, this 12th century Swahili village is a historical town that was mysteriously abandoned some 600 years ago and now it is a national Museum in Kenya. The entire town was built from rocks and stones and inhabited by Swahili people of East Africa, the remains of this town are traced back to the 12th century. The town occupy an area of 44 hectares of land and it was declared a protected monument in 1929.
Gedi Ruins and Museum/monument has numerous ruins and comprises of mosques, a magnificent palace and houses all nestled within 45 acres of forest.
Nairobi Railway Museum
The Nairobi Railway Museum is one a kind railway museum in Nairobi, Kenya situated adjacent to Nairobi railway station. This museum is dedicated to the history of Kenya’s rail network and showcases exhibits from the defunct East Africa Railways, this museum was opened in 171 by the East African Railways and Harbours Corporation and is operated by Kenya Railways.
Nairobi Railway Museum has maintained its rail connection which allows fr the efficient movement of museum exhibits for maintenance and placing items in the collection. This collection comprises of early diesel locomotives and passenger coaches, one of the display locomotives is a 301 (2301) which was used in the 185 movie, out of Africa.
Kenya National Archives
Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services is another museum in Kenya located at the edge of the central business district in downtown Nairobi along Moi Avenue next to Ambassadeur Hotel.
Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services was established by an Act of the parliament of Kenya in 156 and was placed under the office of the Vice President and the Minister of Home Affairs. Currently it is under the office of the Vice president and State Department for National Heritage and Culture.
Kenya National ARCHIVES AND Documentation Services contains African artifacts that were collected in the 1th century with up to 40,000 volume of public records and archives, Museums In Kenya
Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services is the largest Pan African art gallery in Africa and it contains ancient art collections from different regions and communities of Africa.
Nairobi Gallery
Nairobi Gallery is located right in the heart of Nairobi City next to Nyayo House, at the intersection of Kenyatta Avenue/Uhuru Highway.
Nairobi Gallery presents temporary art exhibits and house the Murumbi African Heritage Collection as well as exhibition of local and international artists, the museum is housed by the old provisional commissioner building built in 1913 and was referred to as “Hatches, Matches and Dispatches” because of the births, marriages and deaths that were recorded here.
Lamu Museums
Lamu Museums is a recognized World Heritage Site located in the North Coast, the museums is one of the most beautiful and serene locations on an African continent with attractions including the Lamu Fort, Lamu Museum, German Post Office, Swahili House and the Takwa Ruins.
Lamu Museums exhibits on display represents the material culture of the various coastal people in the context in which the items are used. Upstairs on this building, there are administrative offices, laboratories, a workshop and a restaurant named Mazingira a Swahili word meaning environment at the rooftop.
