Mandela: The Official Exhibition @ Museum of History & Industry

In 1999, former South African president Nelson Mandela paid a seminal December visit to our drizzly city, in part to recognize Seattle’s role in the anti-apartheid movement and the city’s boycott of South African goods. This summer, Mandela is once again gracing our city with his spirit. Mandela: The Official Exhibition at Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry is the most comprehensive collection of rare personal artifacts, film footage and photographs ever assembled on Mandela’s life and legacy. Highlights include the recreation of Mandela’s prison cell on Robben Island, handwritten letters and personal items.

Developed in collaboration with the Mandela family and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the exhibition takes visitors on an immersive journey through the life of one of the world’s most iconic human rights leaders. On your passage through the exhibit you’ll step into Mandela’s early years, learn about his 27-year imprisonment and explore his pivotal role in dismantling apartheid and fostering reconciliation in South Africa. The exhibition presents Mandela not only as a political leader, but also as a father, husband and global symbol of justice and peace.

Seattle is one of only a handful of North American cities to host the traveling exhibition, offering local audiences a unique opportunity to engage with Mandela’s story on an intimate and deeply human level. Whether you’re encountering Mandela’s story for the first time or revisiting it with a new perspective, the exhibit prompts reflection on the power of resistance, forgiveness and enduring leadership in the face of oppression.

Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry connects communities with history to inspire dialogue, reflection and action.