The Scientific Society Swakopmund is constituted as an association not for gain founded in 1951 and has dedicated itself to the study and preserve the history and culture of Namibia, as well as Namibia-specific scientific topics, for example botany of the Namib desert, Geology, flora and fauna.

The Society is the owner and operator of both the Swakopmund Museum and the Sam Cohen reference library with its associated archive, which contains several collections of documents, historic photographs, slides and photographic negatives, postcards, historic maps and newspapers.

The Society is also the owner of the historic Otavi Bahnhof (a historic Swakopmund railway station) and the OMEG-Haus (the former storeroom of the Otavi Minen und Eisenbahngesellschaft). These National Heritage buildings are situated next to the Sam Cohen Library along the main road of Swakopmund (Sam Nujoma Avenue). Here you will also find a small botanical garden and interesting mining artefacts from the time of the Otavi Minen und Eisenbahn Gesellschaft (OMEG).

The Swakopmund Museum is situated in the former German Imperial Customs Warehouse, just below the Swakopmund lighthouse.

The slogan of the Society is “Build on your Heritage” and refers to the cultural and historical heritage of Namibians of all origins. In this spirit the Society collects and preserves documents and artefacts of historic or scientific significance, specifically relating to Namibia. Such documents and artefacts are made accessible to interested members of the public in the Swakopmund Museum and the Sam Cohen Library.

The Society also serves as a platform for engagement on historic and scientific topics, also by hosting public lectures, arranging excursions and making information and knowledge available through publications, such as the “Communications”.

The wealth of information stored at the Scientific Society Swakopmund provides opportunities for research and volunteer activities in the Swakopmund Museum or the Sam Cohen Library and Archives

To keep delivering services to the community and visitors, the SSS is critically dependent on donations.
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