The
"Our Golden Heritage" Museum is very pedagogic on the thematic of Gold itself.
--- from the Museum's leaflet ---The history of Pilgrim's Rest dates back to ancient times when unknown black miners worked the quartz reefs for gold.
However, the historic village, as we know it, was founded in 1873 when alluvial gold was discovered in the Pilgrim's Creek.
News of the discovery triggered the first major gold rush in South Africa and by the end of that year there were some 1500 diggers working 4000 claims in and around Pilgrim's Rest.
It is estimated that R2 million worth of gold was mined during the first seven years of mining in the Pilgrim's Rest valley.
The 1880's saw the end of the diggers era and by 1895 several small mining companies had amalgamated to form the Transvaal Gold Mining Estates.
The black and white miners of this company and the local villagers shared the fluctuating fortunes of mining at Pilgrim's Rest until 1972 when the last mine ceased to operate.
The village has subsequently become a National icon and living museum.
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Phone: (+27) (0) 137-681-471 /2
Address: Private Bag X519, Pilgrim's Rest 1290, Mpumalanga
Directions: on the main street
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on Sep 24, 2006
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