The Old Harbour provided a rocky but safe shelter for the many small fishing boats that were stopping over at Hermanus around the middle of the nineteenth century to take advantage of the abundance and variety of fish. Then, in the 1940’s, a new harbour was built. In 1970, the Old Harbour was proclaimed a national monument and in 1972, it became an open-air museum. Situated at the base of the cliffs overlooking the waters of Walker Bay, the museum offers a look into the history of this seaside town with its collection of indoor and open-air exhibits that recount stories of the town’s fishing heritage and the fishermen who made it their home.