Heart of Cape Town Museum

About Heart of Cape Town Museum

The Heart of Cape Town Museum is a compelling tribute to the world’s first successful human-to-human heart transplant, performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in 1967. Located within the actual Groote Schuur Hospital where the surgery took place, the museum offers a deeply immersive experience by preserving the original operating theatres, complete with lifelike wax models and period-accurate medical equipment. Visitors frequently praise the highly informative and passionate guided tours, which provide sensitive accounts of the donor, Denise Darvall, and the recipient, Louis Washkansky. While some find the entrance fee for foreigners slightly high, many agree that the two-hour journey through medical history is both educational and emotionally stirring, making it a standout "hidden gem" for anyone visiting Cape Town.