Museum of the City of Rio de Janeiro

The Museum of the City of Rio de Janeiro holds photographs, maps, documents, and objects that document how the city grew and developed. Inside, visitors can trace the physical changes to neighborhoods, streets, and public spaces over several centuries.

The museum was created to preserve and show the history of Rio de Janeiro as it transformed from a Portuguese colonial port into a major Brazilian capital. The collection reflects this shift through artifacts and records spanning from the arrival of Europeans to the 20th century.

The museum shows how different neighborhoods in Rio grew and changed over time. The displayed photographs and objects reveal how communities developed and how people lived in those areas.

The museum is easily reached and located in a central neighborhood of Rio. Plan to spend about two to three hours to view the exhibitions without rushing.

The museum displays rare aerial photographs from different decades showing how Rio expanded outward from the waterfront. These images make visible just how rapidly the city sprawled across shorelines and hillsides.