Fishing Museum of Santos, Marine science museum in Santos, Brazil
The Fishing Museum of Santos occupies a 1908 mansion filled with preserved marine specimens, skeletons, shells, and aquatic creatures from Brazilian waters. The collection represents the diversity of sea life that local fishermen encounter in the region.
The building stands on the site of Fort August from 1734, which defended Santos estuary against pirates during colonial times. This military past shaped the coastal region throughout the colonial period.
The museum reveals the connection between Santos maritime heritage and local fishing practices through educational exhibits and marine life collections.
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday and is easy to reach on Avenida Bartholomeu de Gusmão. Visitors should allow adequate time to explore the extensive collection on display.
The museum displays a fin whale skeleton with 193 bones that local fishermen initially mistook for a German submarine in 1941. This unusual mix-up is part of local history and shows how surprising encounters with large sea creatures can be.
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