SSR Memorial Centre for Culture
This simple house museum near the Jardin Plaine Verte was home to Mauritius’ father of independence, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, from 1935 until 1968. It’s an interesting exhibit on his life, with some fascinating photographs, a collection of his belongings and even films about the great man, beloved by all Mauritians.
Frederik Hendrik Museum
The Frederik Hendrik Museum opened its doors in May 1999 and is named after the stadtholder of the United Provinces of The Netherlands who was in office from 1625 to 1647.
It is located at Old Grand Port, which is considered a historical site bearing witness to the Dutch and French colonial settlements in Mauritius, on the coast of south east Mauritius. The very first inhabitants of Mauritius, the Dutch, settled here to colonise the island.
The museum, surrounded by a luxuriant tropical garden, includes a visitors’ centre with an exhibition of artifacts found during archaeological excavations in the area since 1997 and the remains of some ruins. Reproduction of historical paintings and maps of the 17th century are also displayed in the complex.
The existing ruins are remains of compounds erected by the French who came to Mauritius after the Hollanders’ departure. They consist of relics of the governor’s main residence, a bakery and a building which sheltered a store, a forge and a prison cell.
Folk Museum of Indian Immigration, MGI
The Folk Museum of Indian Immigration was set up and inaugurated on 11 March 1991. The aims and objectives of the Museum are to collect, preserve, restore, promote and disseminate the historical and cultural heritage of the Indian Immigrants. Through a permanent exhibition of archival documents, photographs, lithographs, dioramas and artifacts, the different phases of the history of Indian settlement and their cultures have been depicted. The Folk Museum provides guided tours for the educational institutions and the public at large on demand. Information and assistance for academic research on Indian diaspora can also be supplied on request.
The Folk Museum has collaborated in the organisation of exhibitions on various themes related to the presence of Indian Immigrants in the
Mauritian society. Among its holdings, the Folk Museum has a collection of exhibitions on:
Indian Indentured Labour: (Seminar on Indian Indentured Labour, 1984)
Tamils in Mauritius: (World Tamil Conference, 1988)
Presence of Telugus: (World Telugu Conference, 1990)
Marathis in Mauritius (World Marathi Conference, 1990)
Mahatma Gandhi’s Visit to Mauritius, 30 October 1901 – 19 November 1901)(MGI, 1991)
La Co-existence Culturelle: (Vème Sommet de la Francophonie, 1991)
Highlights of Telugu Settlement in Mauritius: (Golden Jubilee of Mauritius Andhra Maha Sabha, 1997)
The Sookdeo Bissoondoyal Memorial Museum is located on the main road in the village of Tyack, rivere des Anguilles. It is found in the house where Sookdeo Bissoondoyal was born. This simple building is basically rectangular, made of stone walls and covered with corrugated iron sheets. The Sookdeo Bissoondoyal Memorial Museum was inaugurated by Sir Anerood Jugnauth, then Prime Minister in the presence of Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo, Governor General and Armoogum Parsuramen, Minister of Education, Arts and Culture on 3 April 1987.
On 13 April 1958 he founded a political party, the Independent Forward Bloc. Sookdeo Bissoondoyal was appointed Minister of Local Government and of Cooperative Movement. In 1965, he attended the Constitutional Conference in London leading towards the independence of Mauritius in 1968. He joined the Independence Party which won the general elections in 1967. He became Minister of Cooperatives. He resigned from the Council of Ministers on 21 March 1969 due to a disagreement on some issues with the Prime Minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and became the Leader of the Opposition. In 1976, he stood for the general elections but was not elected. On 18 August 1977 he died at the age of 68.
Postal Museum
The Mauritius Postal Museum is located in an old stone building, adjacent to the post office Building, along the motorway in Port Louis. This 18th century building also served as civil hospital in the past and is now listed as a National Heritage. The museum was set up by the Mauritius Postal Services. It was opened by Dr. the Hon. A.S. Kasenally, Minister of Energy, Water Resources, Postal Services, Scientific Research and Technology on 10 March 1995. In 2000, the museum was listed as specialised museum under the Mauritius Museums Council Act. It is presently run by the Mauritius Post.
Robert Edward Hart Memorial Museum
Robert Edward Hart (1891–1954) was a renowned Mauritian poet, apparently appreciated by both the French and the English, although we’ve yet to meet anyone who’s heard of him. His house, La Nef, is an attractive coral-stone cottage that was opened to the public as the Robert Edward Hart Museum in 1967. On display are some originals and copies of Hart’s letters, plays, speeches and poetry, as well as his fiddle, spectacles and trusty Britannic toilet.
Hart’s award from the National Institute of Sciences for services to ‘telepathy, hypnotism and personal magnetism’ could do with some explanation. Sadly, the captions are only in French. This is definitely rainy-day tourism.