Robben Island

We were in Cape Town, South Africa for a mission presidency seminar the end of Sept.

This is the ferry to the left that we borded to see Robben Island. From 1866-1921 it was a convict prison. Then during WWII it was a learning and defense station.

From 1846-1931 it was a hospital also for those with leprosy and mentally and chronically ill patients.

This is the quarry where prisoners worked all day. It was almost blinding in the sun and did much damage to the prisoners eyes,

Only one prisoner ever escaped from the island.

All the guides in Robben Island were previous inmates in the prison. It was quite the experience to have them share what it was like to live here. Robben Island is known for the place where Nelson Mandella was imprisoned.  This was his cell. From 1961-1991 the facility was a maximum security prison for political prisoners.  It became a museum in 1997.