When the apartheid government declared District Six a white area in 1965, more than 60 000 residents were relocated to the barren Cape Flats area. The original community was made up of a vibrant mix of individuals - freed slaves, merchants, artisans, labourers, and immigrants. Their forced removal threatened over a century of history and community life. The District Six Museum is a monument to the memories and lives of the neighborhood's uprooted people.

The museum houses historical documentation, an artwork collection, audio-visual displays and a continually updated resources centre. Using these tools, as well as permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Museum is committed to telling the stories of the the individuals and communities who had to live through this indignity. The period of time from the late 1800's / early 1900's to the present day is covered, with topics ranging from day to day life to political activism.