The Scientific Society Swakopmund is constituted as an association not for gain and is dedicated to the preservation of Namibian history and culture, as well as to Namibia-specific scientific topics with focus on the Namib Desert and the coastline.

The Society is the owner and operator of both, the Swakopmund Museum and the Sam Cohen Library with its associated archive, which contains several collections of books, documents, historic photographs, slides and photographic negatives, postcards, historic maps and the largest historical newspaper collection of Namibian newspapers.

The Society is also the owner of the 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 Sam Nujoma Avenue, the main road of Swakopmund. Here you will also find whale bones and baleen, as well as 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 lighthouse of Swakopmund.

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 ample opportunities for research and volunteer activities in the Swakopmund Museum or the Sam Cohen Library and Archive.

To continue delivering services to the community and visitors, the Scientific Society Swakopmund is dependent on donations.
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