On January 22, 1808, João and his court landed in Salvador, Bahia. A few days after his arrival (January 28), still in Salvador, João established the opening of Brazilian ports to friendly nations. Shortly afterward, the Portuguese court arrived in Rio de Janeiro, where it settled. With João's arrival, the city of Rio de Janeiro received many improvements, such as the opening of public roads that facilitated the movement of people and goods, the creation of the Royal Press - which published the first newspaper in Brazil, the Gazeta do Rio de Janeiro - and the Royal Library, which is currently the National Library and houses a large collection for historical research, such as old books, documents, maps, etc.
When he moved from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, the first residence of d. João VI was the Paço Imperial, the former residence of the viceroys. Later, Elias Antônio Lopes, a merchant who grew rich from the trafficking of enslaved people, donated the Quinta da Boa Vista palace, in São Cristóvão, to the Portuguese royal family. The building that today houses the Museu Nacional was home to d. João VI, d. Pedro I, and d. Pedro II. The Museu Nacional was created by d. João VI through a decree dated June 6, 1818. With the goal of spreading natural science, it was known at the time as the Museu Real and was located in Campo de Sant'Ana, in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
With the republican coup of 1889, Emperor dom Pedro II was banished from Brazil and went into exile in France. The Museum's transfer to the São Cristóvão Palace (Quinta da Boa Vista) took place in 1892, after the first Republican Constituent Assembly met there. The permanent exhibitions were opened to the public on May 25, 1900. The Museu Nacional has hosted people of the utmost importance to world science, such as Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Santos-Dumont. It held a collection of tremendous importance to both Brazilian and world science and history. It was a major center of memory, where many discoveries were lost after an arson fire that occurred in 2018, due to government neglect and a lack of funding and conservation.
Interested in this story? We made a presentation with more details, curiosities, beautiful images and some sad ones, it's worth clicking to find out more!
REFERENCES:
Websites consulted: 200 years of Museu Nacional
The Construction of Modern Brazil: Monarchy and Nobility in Rio de Janeiro (1808-1821). In Os Desafios da Escola Pública Paranaense na Perspectiva do Professor. PDE Artigos 2013. Click here.
Books: BOULOS, Alfredo. História Sociedade e Cidadania. 8th grade. PDF available for download.
