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Monuments and memorials

<span> <h2 class="sectHeading">About monuments and memorials</h2></span> <p> There are many monuments and memorials located on public land under the City’s management. They stand in memory of people or events that have had a significant impact on the development of the City and the lives of multiple generations.</p><p>Monuments and memorials have been erected in the city over a long period of time. In their diversity, they reflect changing ideas of people and events that are most important to the people of Cape Town.</p><p>There are a few periods in the city’s history where we saw an abundance of monuments being erected; including:</p><ul><li>the period of British colonial rule in the 19th century </li><li>after the South African War,</li><li>after World Wars I and II,</li><li>the tercentenary celebrations of the establishment of the Dutch East India Company colony at the Cape (1952), and</li><li>the period after the end of Apartheid in 1994.</li></ul><p>Cape Town’s sculptures, memorials, monuments and plaques are all protected under national legislation (the National Heritage Resources Act No. 25, 1999). The City's Arts and Culture Branch is the current custodian of the monuments, memorials and other public art. This branch is responsible for their management and maintenance in order to ensure their long term preservation.</p> <span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info note"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Please note</h4><p> Heritage buildings and other matters relating to the heritage of the built environment are managed by the City’s <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/cape-towns-history-and-heritage/Understanding-our-history-and-heritage/Protecting-our-heritage">Environmental and Heritage Management Branch</a>. <br></p></div></div></span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Find monuments and memorials</h2><p>Search, browse and explore monuments and memorials on the Digital Vault, the City’s digital catalogue of permanent and temporary public art and the Civic Collection. Find images, physical descriptions, and the stories that make these items so interesting and important. </p> <span><a href="https://web1.capetown.gov.za/web1/artscul" title="Download" class="btn" target="_blank">Access the vault</a></span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Discover monuments and memorials</h2><p> There are monuments and memorials throughout the metropole, not just in the city centre. While many are instantly- recognisable statues, monuments take many forms, including: </p><ul><li>sculptures<br></li><li>fountains<br></li><li>benches </li></ul><p>Be on the lookout for monuments and memorials that you may encounter as you move through the city.<br></p> <span> <div class="image-gallery-slider img-gal-1" id="img-gal-1" data-slide="1" data-slides="3" style="height:493.5px;"><div class="image-gallery-content" style="height:414px;"><figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-1"><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Delville_Wood_Memorial_Gardens.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="display:none;" /><figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p> Delville Wood Memorial in the Company's Gardens..<br></p> </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-2"> <img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Forced_Removals_Memorial_Plaque_SimonsTown.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="display:none;" /> <figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p>Forced Removals Memorial Plaque in Simon's Town.<br></p> </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-3"> <img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Slave_Auction_Tree_Memorial_Cape_Town_CBD.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="display:none;" /> <figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p>Slave Auction Tree Memorial in Cape Town CBD. <br></p> </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-4"> <img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/The_Cenotaph_War_Memorial_Cape_Town_Foreshore.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="display:none;width:834px;" /> <figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p>The Cenotaph War Memorial in Cape Town Foreshore.<br></p> </figcaption> </figure><figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-5"><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Trojan_Horse_Memorial_Athlone.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="display:none;" /><figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p>Trojan Horse Memorial in Athlone.<br></p> </figcaption> </figure><figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-6"><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/UDF_Memorial_MitchellsPlain.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="display:none;" /><figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p> United Democratic Front (UDF) Memorial in Mitchells Plain.<br></p> </figcaption> </figure> </div><div class="image-gallery-control"><div class="image-gallery-caption"></div><div class="image-gallery-nav"><div class="nav-info">1 of 6<br></div><div class="slide-next"> <i class="icon arrow-white-next"></i> </div><div class="slide-prev"> <i class="icon arrow-white-prev"></i></div></div></div></div></span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Contact us</h2><p> <em>Email:<br><a href="mailto:Civic.Collection@capetown.gov.za">Civic.Collection@capetown.gov.za</a></em></p>

Monuments and memorials add cultural texture and memory to the city.