Karen Blixen Museum

Karen Blixen Museum was established in , Built by in .

Description

Karen Blixen Museum is a Kenyan National Museum which served as a farm house for a Swedish man Baron Bror von Blixen Fincke and his wife Karen Blixen from whom the surrounding Karen suburb Nairobi derives its name. This house is associated with the broad historical pattern of European settlement and cultivation of East Africa. It is also associated with the life of a person significant to Kenya's past Mrs. Karen Blixen; who went on to be a successful author. The building mirrors the distinctive characteristics of its type, period and method of construction, with its architecture similar in style to many European bungalow residences built around its time. The Museum is open to the Public every day (9.30 am to 6 pm) including weekends and public holidays. Visitors are encouraged to be at the Museum from 4:30 pm. Guided tours are offered continuously while a museum shop offers handicrafts, posters and postcards, the Movie ‘Out of Africa’, books and other Kenyan souvenirs. The grounds may be rented for wedding receptions, corporate functions, and other events.

History

The Museum was first built in 1912 by Swedish Engineer Ake Sjogren. Karen Blixen and her husband bought the house in 1917 and it became the farm house for their 4500-acre farm, of which 600 acres was used for coffee farming. When their marriage failed in 1921 the Baron moved on and left the running of the farm to Karen. Karen lived in the house until her return to Denmark in 1931. The house farm was bought by Remy Marin, who broke the land into 20-acre parcels for development among which created the present suburb of Karen. The house was sporadically occupied until purchased in 1964 by the Danish government and given to the Kenyan government as an independence gift.

Safety

Karen Blixen Museum is a safe place for visitors.

Things To Bring

A camera is the most important thing to bring if you are going to take a tour of this historic site.

Things To Do

Take the guided tour and learn more about the museum, attend a wedding reception or a corporate event.

Best Time To  Visit

It is best to visit the museum from 4:30 pm on weekends this way, the tours are also more lively on weekends.
Weather at Giraffe Centre

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are Guests allowed into the museum?
A: Guests inside the Museum building have no need to worry about weather conditions.