Museu do Índio

The Museu do Indio is a museum in Botafogo that holds around 14,000 ethnographic objects from Brazilian indigenous peoples, including about 50,000 photographs of their daily activities. The collection documents the many different ways of life and traditions of peoples from various regions of the country.

Darcy Ribeiro founded the institution in 1953 as the first official museum dedicated to indigenous cultures. The museum moved in 1978 to a mansion from the 1880s in Botafogo, where it has remained.

The museum shows how different peoples of northern and central Brazil lived and what objects they used in daily life. Visitors can see traditional clothing, tools, and ceremonial objects that reveal how rich and varied these cultures were.

The building is easy to access, with information available in Portuguese and some other languages on site. Visitors should allow plenty of time to explore the collections thoroughly and study the details of the displayed objects.

The museum grounds feature four complete dwelling structures built in their original form by different peoples. These constructions show the different building techniques and living spaces adapted for various climates and environments.

Location: Rio de Janeiro

Inception: 1953

Official opening: 1953

Address: Rua das Palmeiras 55, Botafogo, 22270-070, Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 09:00-17:30; Saturday-Sunday 13:00-17:30

Phone: +552132148700

Email: comunicacao@museudoindio.gov.br

Website: http://museudoindio.gov.br

GPS coordinates: -22.95194,-43.19111

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:03