National Historical Museum, National museum at Praça Marechal Âncora, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The National Historical Museum is a museum in Centro, Rio de Janeiro, occupying a colonial complex that holds paintings, sculptures, military equipment, and everyday objects from different periods of Brazilian history. The exhibition spaces spread across multiple buildings connected by courtyards and passages.
The buildings began as Santiago Fort in 1567 and gradually incorporated a prison, an arms depot, and a war arsenal over the following centuries. The site was transformed into a museum in 1922 to celebrate the centenary of Brazilian independence.
The permanent exhibition shows the evolution of Brazilian transportation, from colonial sedan chairs through early automobiles, including a 1910s Protos vehicle from Rio de Janeiro.
The museum opens on weekdays in the morning and afternoon, and on weekends only in the afternoon, with guided tours offered during opening hours. The rooms are accessible via staircases and some ramps, and a visit typically takes two to three hours.
The institution holds one of the largest coin collections in Latin America and about 50,000 historical documents, photographs, and rare publications on Brazilian history. Researchers and visitors can access these materials by appointment.
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