| Open Times |
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| Photos & Info - Animal-Drawn |
| Photos & Info - Bicycles & Motorcycles |
| Photos & Info - Buses & Coaches |
| Photos & Info - Fire Engines |
| Photos & Info - Motor Cars |
| Photos & Info - Steam-Driven |
| Photos & Info - Trams & Trolley buses |
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ABOUT US
At the James Hall Museum of Transport
generations of youngsters can see the many ways
their grandparents and great-grandparents got around the city - and
the country - all those years ago.
A
trip to the James Hall Museum
of Transport in Pioneers' Park in La Rochelle is a must for
anyone keen on vehicles, history, or just meandering through a small
sector of South Africa's past.
Ever wondered whether there was
a time when Johannesburg's roads weren't packed with speeding cars?
Take some time to visit the James Hall Museum to find out more about
the history of land transportation.
The museum is a treasure trove of
information and displays dealing with over a hundred years of land
transport in all its forms. Our city's rich history of
transportation is recreated at the James Hall Museum of Transport,
which is dedicated to preserving the history of land transport in
the city for posterity.
Children will be in awe of the museum's collection
of animal-drawn carts, ox-wagons, bicycles, coaches, motorbikes,
steam locomotives, electric cars, fire engines and other
self-propelled vehicles.
The museum's bicycle display
includes penny-farthings, a tandem and tricycles.
In conjunction with the
City Council, the late James "Jimmie" Hall founded the museum in
1964. Hall was a car enthusiast with a special interest in vintage
models. The oldest motorcar on display is a 1900 Clement Panhard,
and the latest a 1980 Opel.
Peter Hall, son of Jimmie, is currently (2011)
head of the museum, and continues to honour his father's legacy by collecting
and preserving vintage cars. The museum
houses a collection of over 2500 items and is the largest of its kind in
South Africa.
Hall says the museum appeals to a cross
section of society, from school children learning about the history
of transportation to enthusiasts from all over South Africa and
overseas.
Other remarkable items on display include
rickshaws, which were used in Johannesburg until 1967, horse-drawn
trams that were still in use at the turn of the last century and
the last electric double-decker tram that ran through parts of
Johannesburg back in 1961.
Early motorcycles that combined
the principles of the bicycle and the internal combustion engine are
on view, and visitors can also see a luxurious private coach from
1905, fire fighting vehicles like the 1913 Merryweather Steam pump
and a 1959 Mayoral Rolls Royce.
Funds are raised by The
Friends of the Museum
to
help with the upkeep.
Entrance to the Museum is FREE!