RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The National Museum in Rio de Janeiro confirmed that in 2022, to mark the bicentennial of Brazil’s independence, part of its facilities will open its doors to the public after being reduced to rubble by a fire 3 years ago.
“We can guarantee the Garden of Princesses – the entire external garden area – and we hope to have at least part of the historic block’s façade rebuilt,” said at a press conference Denise Pires de Carvalho, rector of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), which manages the museum.
However, the museum’s complete inauguration is only scheduled for 2026, when the rebuilding of the Imperial Palace is expected to be completed, at an estimated cost of some R$385 (US$74.3) million, of which about 64% has been raised so far.
The estimate is that the new exhibition areas will cover some 5,500 m2 of space, divided into four circuits, for which 10,000 pieces will be needed.
To this end, the “The National Museum Lives” campaign was launched, with which the institution aims to raise works to give life to this space and to restore the museum’s collection.
The call is for research institutions, museums, social groups and collectors from all over the world to join the National Museum in this “difficult but possible task,” says the museum’s director Alexander Kellner.
The museum has received the support and backing of at least 30 countries worldwide, but the number of pieces to be exhibited is still limited (some 500), as part of the museum’s collection is also made up of research pieces that are not on display.
According to Kellner, archaeological pieces from international institutions and private donations are about to be delivered.
“Today more than ever, we want to be an innovative, sustainable and accessible museum of natural history and anthropology that promotes the appreciation of scientific and cultural heritage and, through the eyes of science, to invite reflection on the world,” the director said.
Over 200 years old, the oldest and largest heritage site in Brazil, the museum was reduced to rubble on September 2, 2018, by a fire that destroyed most of its 20 million-piece collection.
The historic building, which initially served as Brazil’s imperial palace, housed what is considered the largest museum of its kind in Latin America and one of the world’s five largest natural history museums.