5/5 Ifeoma A. 2 years ago on Google • 15 reviews
Jaekel
House
is
a
2-storey
colonial
mansion
built
in
1898
on
a
large
expanse
of
landscaped
land
and
named
after
the
late
Francis
Jaekel
OBE,
a
former
superintendent
of
the
Nigeria
Railway
Corporation
and
located
in
the
Railway
Compound
in
Ebute
Metta,
Lagos.
It
was
formally
the
residence
of
the
General
Manager
and
was
later
converted
to
a
senior
staff
rest
house.
The
building
was
finally
renovated
and
restored
by
Prof.
John
Godwin
in
collaboration
with
the
Railway
Corporation
in
2010
and
currently
converted
into
a
Mini
Museum
showcasing
photographic
archives
dating
from
1940s
through
to
1970s
of
personalities,
places,
historical
events
in
pre-
and
post-independent
Nigeria
and
houses
artefacts
(tools,
equipment,
attires,
pictures
etc)
of
the
old
Railway
Corporation.
The
Mini
Museum
is
currently
run
by
Legacy1995,
the
Historical
&
Environmental
Interest
Group
of
Nigeria
in
conjunction
with
Nigeria
Railway
Corporation.
I've
known
of
it's
existence
for
about
a
year
+
now.
I'd
always
looked
forward
to
visiting
it
and
I
wasn't
disappointed
at
all!
I
finally
visited
Jaekel
House
from
my
base
Abuja
on
17th
August
2021.
If
you're
fascinated
by
or
love
trains,
railways,
colonial
era
and
vintage
stuff,
you
should
certainly
visit
Jaekel
House!
Getting
there
was
pretty
easy,
though
I
didn't
go
by
regular
public
transport.
A
Bolt
ride
from
my
Surulere
location
to
Jaekel
House
cost
N900.
They're
open
Tuesdays
to
Saturdays
10am
-
5pm.
The
compound
has
the
2
storey
mostly
wooden
building,
an
installed
rail
track,
some
railway
equipment,
a
lush,
flower
laden
garden,
fruit
trees,
a
cottage
building
at
the
back,
which
serves
as
a
kitchen,
a
picnic
area
and
well
cut
lawn.
Pictures
are
only
allowed
outside
in
the
compound,
of
the
building
and
the
ground
floor
room
where
pictures
are
hung
up.
Pictures
are
not
allowed
upstairs.
Entry
is
free
but
donations
are
requested
and
accepted
after
the
tour.
They
keep
a
visitor's
register
where
you
enter
you
personal
information,
remarks
and
donation
made.
I'll
encourage
anyone
visiting
to
donate
generously
as
they
can
afford,
as
this
goes
into
the
upkeep
and
maintenance
of
the
museum.
This
place
will
not
only
show
you
the
history
of
Nigeria
Railway,
it
also
packs
a
healthy
dose
of
retro,
vintage
vibe
with
the
quaint
pretty
house
and
lush
flower
garden.
It's
a
great
place
to
bring
kids
to
learn
about
history
of
trains
and
railway
in
Nigeria,
as
well
as
to
relax.
They
have
a
picnic/event
area
that
can
be
rented
for
picnics
and
small
events.
It's
also
a
perfect
place
for
a
photoshoot
like,
pre
wedding
shoot,
romantic/vintage
themed
shoots,
railway
themed
shoots,
all
at
a
fee.
Some
scenes
in
kunle
Afolayan's
movie,
October
1st
were
shot
in
Jaekel
House.
The
cottage
is
currently
not
working,
likely
due
to
covid.
Things
they
should
do
to
improvise
the
place
would
be;
•Do
more
thorough
cleaning
inside,
especially
upstairs
where
items,
pictures
and
equipments
are
displayed.
•Add
some
games
visitors
could
play.
•Add
some
concrete
chairs
in
Jaekel's
Secret
Garden
and
in
the
front
part
of
the
house.
•Publicize
the
existence
of
the
museum,
many
people
do
not
know
about
it.
On
a
scale
of
1
-
10,
I
give
it
a
9.
It
took
me
straight
back
to
my
childhood
and
reminded
me
of
my
first
train
ride
in
Nigeria
at
the
age
of
4
from
Enugu
to
Sokoto.
Jaekel
House
is
certainly
worth
a
visit.
Go,
see...
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