Museu Histórico de Brasília
About This Museum
It’s a little-known fact that the Museu Histórico de Brasília is often called the 'Museu da Cidade' and was inaugurated on the very same day as Brazil's new capital: April 21, 1960. Tucked into the monumental Praça dos Três Poderes, its story is inseparable from the city's own explosive birth. You won't find dusty, ancient artifacts here; instead, the collection pulses with the energy of a mid-century modern dream. It chronicles the frantic, ambitious four years of construction that willed a capital city out of the empty Central-West savanna.
Collection Highlights
The exhibits are a time capsule of Brasília's creation, featuring original urban plans, blueprints signed by Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, and striking black-and-white photographs of the candangos—the migrant workers who built it all with their hands.
Visitor Information
Since it sits right on the main square between the Congress and Presidential Palace, you can easily weave it into a walking tour of Brasília's political heart. Just check opening times as they can vary.
Architecture & Building
The building itself is a prime example of early Brasília modernism—a simple, horizontal pavilion with clean lines and a striking concrete façade that feels both modest and monumental.
Contact & Location
Address: Museu Histórico de Brasília, S1, Brasília, Plano Piloto, Região Geográfica Imediata do Distrito Federal, Região Integrada de Desenvolvimento do Distrito Federal e Entorno, Região Geográfica Intermediária do Distrito Federal, Distrito Federal, Região Centro-Oeste, 70160-900, Brasil
Phone: +55 61 3323-3728
