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Old Town Hall Museum

Western Province Tourism
Old Town Hall Museum

Old Town Hall Museum in Colombo is a fascinating historical site. It is located at the end of Main Street in Pettah, slightly hidden among the bustling shopping streets. The building dates back to 1865 and was the first municipality of Colombo. It served as the office and chambers of the Colombo Municipal Council and also functioned as a courthouse. Architect J. G. Smither, a British architect, designed this colonial Dutch building. The wooden furniture inside matches the building's woodwork. The Old Town Hall remained active until 1928 when the New Town Hall was built. The Old Town Hall houses a modest museum on the ground floor, exhibiting preserved steam engines, machinery, and old equipment. In one of the rooms, life-size dolls sit around a wooden table, replicating a council meeting from 1906. Rumor has it that the council members come alive at night! Adjacent to the council chamber, there's a room with an old map of Colombo from 1785, antique typewriters, and an old radio. The architecture features arches, needle-point columns, crumbly yellow walls, and creaky staircases.

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