Beaufort West became the first municipality in South Africa in February, 1837 and had the first town hall in the country

Fransie Piener Museum The Fransie Piener Museum portrays the cultural and natural history of Prince Albert and the district. It is a house museum and has a large collection of furniture and paintings and there is a display of the gold mining activities in the district during the late 19th century. A cast of the Bradysaurus fossil footprints found in the area evokes images of the Great Karoo millions of years ago. There is also a Stone Age exhibition including a rare, intact Khoekhoe clay pot found on the outskirts of Prince Albert and a moving display of the forced removals of the 60's. A new exhibition of the life and art of Outa Lappies (Jan Schoeman) has been added. During March every year witblits is distilled in our antique copper still and sold at the museum. The Museum Shop has a wide range of books about the history, ecology and geology of Prince Albert and the surrounding areas as well as cards, postcards and posters. Witblits is also on sale.