National Historical Museum (Brazil)

The National Historical Museum in Rio de Janeiro holds over 287,000 items, including the largest numismatic collection in Latin America. It occupies a 20,000 m² complex that began as the St. James of Mercy Fort in 1603, with earlier structures dating to 1567. You can see permanent and temporary exhibits spread across more than 25 rooms.

Don't miss

• The largest numismatic collection in Latin America, with over 287,000 items
• The 1603 St. James of Mercy Fort, with earlier structures from 1567
• The 1693 Calaboose Prison, built for slaves
• The 1762 Casa do Trem (Ammunition Depot) and 1764 War Arsenal
• The 1835 Barracks, the last addition to the complex
• A library with over 57,000 titles, some dating to the 15th century, plus 50,000 documents and photographs

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit National Historical Museum (Brazil)

Cheapest way inEntrance to the Giant Roda of Rio de Janeiro4.8★ · 1,451 travelers20 minutesFree cancellationFrom$12 per personSee dates →Most bookedRio: Tijuca Rainforest Hike, Wildlife, Waterfalls & Caves4.9★ · 1,317 travelers~5 hoursFree cancellationFrom$78 per personSee dates →Private & flexiblePrivate Petrópolis -Imperial Museum,dummont house,Cristal Palace,S.Pedro Church5★ · 14 travelers7-10 hoursFree cancellationFrom$151 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• The museum complex covers 20,000 m², so wear comfortable shoes.
• The museum library holds over 57,000 titles, many from the 15th century, and 50,000 documents and photographs.
• A digital collection with 500 works from the painting collection is available online at mhn.acervos.museus.gov.br.

A bit of history

Created in August 1922 by President Epitácio Pessoa, the museum opened in October as part of the Centennial Exhibition in two rooms of the Casa do Trem (Ammunition Depot). Over 75 years it gradually took over the entire architectural complex of Calaboose Point, where Santiago Fort once stood. It was the first Brazilian museum to run an official museology course and became internationally known in the 1940s.