Queen's Fort Military Museum is a museum in Bloemfontein, South Africa, which depicts all major wars in the Free State from the 1800s. The building was erected in 1848 and put to use for the first time in 1849. Along the years, it has been used as military headquarters, a hospital, an asylum or mental institution, and a prison.
The idea to erect this building came after the Battle of Boomplaats (fought near Jagersfontein between the British and the Voortrekker on 28 August 1848). Major Henry Douglas Warden was instructed to build the Fort by Harry Smith to replace Fort Dury, which was situated at the Corner of Markgraaf and St Andrew’s Streets, in Bloemfontein. The building was then named in honour of Queen Victoria, but later changed to The Fort. Currently, it is known as Military Museum.
By 6 October 1848, new rampart walls had been built and the Fort was completed the following year. At first, the building was not an impressive one, and it was regarded as ineffective. Four nine-pounder and three six-pounder guns were mounted on the walls. These weapons were regarded as antiquated, obsolete and useless iron guns. Its powder magazine which was mounted inside the Fort, collapsed during heavy rain in 1850. The Fort was managed by two companies of the 45th Regiment, one company of the Cape Corps and 25 artillerymen.
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