Cecil Rhodes Statue, Cape Town

Cecil Rhodes Statue, Cape Town

The Cecil John Rhodes Statue, situated in the tranquil setting of the Company's Garden in Cape Town, is a historical monument that has sparked diverse interpretations and discussions about its significance and the legacy of the individual it portrays. Designed by Sir Herbert Baker and erected in 1908, the statue depicts Cecil Rhodes, a significant figure in British colonial expansion in southern Africa, dressed in a three-piece suit and with his left hand raised, pointing northward. This gesture is seen as representing his imperialist aspirations, contrasting with the Jan van Riebeeck statue, which faces south and tells a different story of occupation and colonialism.

Rhodes (1853 - 1902), was a British businessman, mining magnate, and politician whose impact on southern Africa was profound. A supporter of British imperialism, he established the territory of Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe and Zambia) in 1895, which was named after him. Rhodes University in South Africa and the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship are also named in his honor, highlighting his lasting influence.

The design of the Rhodes statue reflects his personal and professional interests. Made from non-orthogonal and roughly hewn sandstone, the statue reflects Rhodes' appreciation for the natural environment and his significant involvement in the mining industry, which was central to his economic endeavors in the region. Some historians and architects argue that this choice of material and design symbolically represents Rhodes' interests in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, areas crucial to his imperial ambitions.

The Cecil John Rhodes Statue not only serves as a reminder of a complex past but also as a focal point for ongoing discussions about history, memory, and identity in South Africa's post-apartheid era.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Cape Town. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Cecil Rhodes Statue on Map

Sight Name: Cecil Rhodes Statue
Sight Location: Cape Town, South Africa (See walking tours in Cape Town)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Cape Town, South Africa

Create Your Own Walk in Cape Town

Create Your Own Walk in Cape Town

Creating your own self-guided walk in Cape Town is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Cape Town Shopping Tour

Cape Town Shopping Tour

Cape Town is grand with quality shopping. The available options here, such as South Africa's top flea market where you can find a wealth of merchandise, from tribal costumes to precious jewelry, offer a colorful experience for both locals and tourists.

Among the standout locations in Cape Town that shoppers particularly love to explore is Adderley Street. This bustling thoroughfare is...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.4 Km or 0.2 Miles
Historical Houses Walking Tour

Historical Houses Walking Tour

When Jan van Riebeeck arrived in Cape Town in 1652, his mission was to establish here a supply station for the ships of the Dutch East India Company sailing to East Africa, India, and the Far East. The oldest buildings in today's Cape Town, dating from the second half of the 17th century, are the remnants of that era.

Garden House, originally a shabby tool shed owned by the Dutch East...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Cape Town Introduction Walking Tour

Cape Town Introduction Walking Tour

Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias first mentioned the Cape of Storms in 1488, but it was soon renamed the Cape of Good Hope with an optimistic eye towards the trade routes it offered between Europe and the East.

In 1652, the Dutch East India Company settled a way-station here for ships traveling that route. Cape Town's natural harbor and strategic position made it the perfect location....  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Bo-Kaap Quarter Walking Tour

Bo-Kaap Quarter Walking Tour

Bo-Kaap is Afrikaans for "above the Cape." The Bo-Kaap District is above Cape Town's city center, on the slopes of Signal Hill. It is the historical center of Cape Malay culture. In the 1760s, Jan de Waal bought land here and built houses he rented to his slaves.

Slaves came from Malaysia, Indonesia, and other parts of Africa. Many of these slaves were Muslim, and this area...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles

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16 Distinctively South African Things to Buy in Cape Town

16 Distinctively South African Things to Buy in Cape Town

The many hopes pinned on this place (Cape of Good Hope) by passing-by sailors over the centuries must have done a good job for Cape Town, seeing it become a colorful cultural hub and prominent metropolis (3rd largest) in South Africa. Overlooking the meeting point of the two oceans (Indian and...