The Heart of Cape Town Museum Admission Ticket
Description
Celebrate one of the greatest moments in medical history at the Heart of Cape Town Museum – a museum dedicated to the world’s first successful heart transplant. Visitors experience the drama of that moment in the fully restored, original operating rooms laid out as they were on the day of the operation. Highlights • Museum dedicated to the world’s first successful heart transplant • Fully restored, original operating rooms laid out as they were on the day of the operation • Trained and certified tour guide
Tour Options
Itinerary
Celebrate one of the greatest moments in medical history at the Heart of Cape Town Museum – a museum dedicated to the world’s first successful heart transplant. Visitors experience the drama of that moment in the fully restored, original operating rooms laid out as they were on the day of the operation. The medical museum also includes a timeline of events that led up to the operation and exhibitions on the donor Denise Darvall, and the surgeon Christiaan Barnard. A trained and certified tour guide will describe the electrifying events of the day with the help of silicone models and reenacting important scenes. History After being declared braindead, Denise Darvall was brought to Theatre B at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town on 3 December 1967. She was prepared for surgery, and at 03:00 her heart was harvested for transplantation. Professor Christiaan Barnard, assisted by Rodney Hewitson, proceeded to sew the donor heart into the recipients’ chest. The operation lasted four and three quarter hours, and at 06:13, the heart began beating in its new home. The Heart of Cape Town Museum honours the skill and wisdom of the transplant team, the courage of the recipient, the generosity of the donor’s father and the memory of the donor herself. Did you know There were several important milestones that led up to the first human heart transplant. The first of these was an operation performed on a dog on 22 July 1958. Norman Shumway and Dick Lower succeeded in bringing a dog’s heart back to life after it had stopped and been stored in saline for one hour. Six days later, Chris Barnard performed his first open heart surgery on 15-year-old Joan Pick. Advice for visitors At the time of this surgery, Christiaan Barnard received a lot of criticism, particularly with regard to ethics. At the Heart of Cape Town Museum, the exhibition covers Barnard’s struggle and the ethical backlash and international attention the surgery received. Another fascinating feature to take note of is the recreation of the donor recipient’s recovery. Ask the guides as much as you can about it – they are knowledgeable and some have even worked with Barnard! The tour lasts roughly two hours, and although it is a fantastic learning experience for children, pre-school age children and youngsters are not recommended as guests.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- The tour lasts roughly two hours, and although it is a fantastic learning experience for children, pre-school age children and youngsters are not recommended as guests.
- The museum is closed on Public Holidays and Weekends
Reviews(21)
I bought the tickets easily for May 1st. When we got to the hospital we found that the museum was closed due to the public holiday.
Thank you for your feedback, and we sincerely apologise for the disappointment caused. Unfortunately, Heart of Cape Town Museum was closed on the public holiday, and we understand how frustrating this must have been after successfully booking your tickets. We are reviewing the holiday operating information displayed to ensure this is communicated more clearly to future visitors. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, as feedback like this helps us improve the overall guest experience. We approve a full refund.
Super good and interesting everyone should look at is a spectacular story very educational
Exciting and very interesting excellent representation! Excellent guide I am not too much visit but I recommend this experience!
It's a mix of history and science, I found very interesting, but a bit perturbing. My 8-year-old daughter was terrified. Suitable for healthcare professionals who are accustomed to the Mood of a Surgery Center
Exceptional! Gide was well educated and communicated well with audience. She made the experience memorable
Hello Hans. Thank you for the positive feedback and rating your experience with The Heart of Cape Town Museum. City Pass Team
An exceptional experience. An inspirational visit. Must visit. Excellent tour guide. Check timing of tours and visit with a guided tour. Guided tour is no extra cost. Guided tour 1 and half hours. Post that you can spend more time on your own. Post the tour read a few more of the Exhibits.
Well worth a visit. It was very emotional for my husband because one of the surgeons assisting during the first heart transplant had flown over to England to perform a lifesaving heart operation on him back in 1966. But even for the uninvolved it's a super, insightful experience. Highly recommended.
A chronicle of the first human heart transplant with historical video and demonstrative set-up. Simple and effective.
Exceptional experience - well presented and super interesting. Only people there and guide was amazing. I could have stayed longer - lots to read and appreciate.
Excellent tour given by a very knowledgeable tour guide. The reproductions are vivid and authentic. We learned a lot about what went before, and after the first heart transplant, and about Dr. Christian Barnard, the good and excessive enjoyment of his celebrity.
