Imperial Museum
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Why go
- The imperial crown of Pedro II, made by Carlos Marin for his coronation at 15, set with over 600 diamonds and 77 pearls.
- The golden pen used to sign the Lei Áurea in 1888.
- The sceptre and majestic costume of Pedro II, part of the imperial regalia.
- The palace gardens, with fountains, statues and around 100 species of trees and flowers from over 15 regions of the world.
Opening hours
Today10:00 – 17:00Show all
Don't miss
- Fala do TronoPedro Américo's painting of Pedro II opening the General Assembly.Among the paintings in the palace. On the map
- Fountain of the FrogResidents once drew water here, believed to be of better quality.In the palace gardens. On the map
- Pedro II's officeIt holds the first telephone of Brazil, brought from the United States.In the palace. On the map
- Princesses' roomsThe rooms of Princess Isabel and Princess Leopoldina are kept as they were.In the palace. On the map
- State HallThe palace's most important room, where Pedro II received official visitors.In the palace. On the map
Know before you go
- Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00.
- Schools can arrange visits through the museum's information and booking line.
- The official website is in Portuguese.
What's inside
- The palace's 14 rooms hold furniture and paintings.
- The dining room, with furniture signed by F. Léger Jeanselme Père & Fils.
- The Music Hall, with a Broadwood pianoforte that tradition says belonged to Pedro I, and a golden harp made by Pleyel Wolff.
- Empress Teresa Cristina's living room, where she received friends in private.
- Everyday objects of the imperial family and of 18th- and 19th-century society.
- The library, with about 50 thousand volumes, mainly on Brazil in the imperial period and on the arts.
- The Rare Works section, with 16th–19th century editions and about 8,000 volumes of Laws of the Empire.
With kids
- Children can take part in puppet theater workshops.
- Patrimonial Education teaches adults and children to critically value their cultural heritage.
Tips for your visit
- Thousands of objects and documents can already be downloaded from the online collection.
- Photos of the museum are available on Wikimedia Commons.
Tours and audio guides
- Guided tours
- Guided tours are part of the museum's educational activities.
- Virtual tour
- A virtual tour of the museum is on Google Arts & Culture.
Interesting facts7
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300,000 items
Hundreds of citizens gave donations that helped grow the collection to almost 300,000 items.
Imperial Museum of Brazil - Wikipedia -
250,000 original
The history archive keeps more than 250,000 original documents, dated from the 13th to the 20th century.
Imperial Museum of Brazil - Wikipedia -
The library's books by foreign travellers include works by Charles Darwin and Debret.
Imperial Museum of Brazil - Wikipedia -
The throne stood first in the Quinta da Boa Vista palace before it moved to the museum.
Imperial Museum of Brazil - Wikipedia -
The museum also goes by the German name Kaiserliches Museum.
Museu Imperial - Wikipedia -
The DAMI project offers free online images of the museum's entire collection.
Imperial Museum of Brazil - Wikipedia -
2018
A crew from Secrets d'Histoire filmed scenes here in 2018, and a 2019 France 2 episode on Pedro II was partly filmed in the museum.
Musée impérial du Brésil - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
Instead, the neoclassical palace was built on it as a summer residence of Pedro II in Petrópolis. Koeler drew the first design, and Cristoforo Bonini later changed it and added the granite portico. After the Republican coup of 1889, the Imperial Family was banished and went into exile in Europe. The museum opened in 1943 to preserve the memory of the monarchy.
- 1830Pedro buys the Córrego Seco estate, first meant for a Palace of Concordia.
- 1845–1862The neoclassical palace is built and completed.
- 1854Jean Baptiste Binot lays out the gardens.
- 1889A Republican coup banishes the Imperial Family, who go into exile in Europe.
- 1893–1908The Notre Dame de Sion Schoolhouse rents the palace.
Show all
- 1909–1939St. Vincent of Paul College uses the building.
- 1940Getúlio Vargas creates the museum by decree.
- 1943The museum opens with pieces from the Brazilian imperial period.
Sources: Imperial Museum of Brazil - Wikipedia · Petrópolis - Wikivoyage (see) · Museu Imperial - Página Inicial — Instituto Bra… · Horário de atendimento — Instituto Brasileiro d… · Karina Waleska Scanavino Costa — Instituto Bras… · Museu Imperial - Wikipedia · Musée impérial du Brésil - Wikipedia · checked 18 Oct 2026
- Website
- museuimperial.museus.gov.br/
- Phone
- +55 24 99228-7196
Questions and answers
What are the opening hours of the Imperial Museum in Petrópolis?
It is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00.
Where is the Imperial Museum in Petrópolis?
It stands at Rua da Imperatriz 220, in the Centro district of Petrópolis's historic centre, north of Rio de Janeiro.
Is the Imperial Museum in Petrópolis a history museum or an art museum?
It is a history museum devoted to the Brazilian empire, with a special focus on the Segundo Reinado period.
Are there activities for children at the Imperial Museum in Petrópolis?
Yes, the museum runs puppet theater workshops that children can join.
Can I see the Imperial Museum's collection online?
Yes. The DAMI project offers free online images of the whole collection, and thousands of objects and documents can be downloaded.
Does the Imperial Museum in Petrópolis offer guided tours?
Guided tours are part of the museum's educational activities.
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