MM Gerdau - Museum of Mines and Metals

The MM Gerdau – Museum of Mines and Metals houses an important collection on mining and metallurgy, documenting two of Minas Gerais’s main economic activities. The museum is part of the Circuito Liberdade, a major cultural corridor in the country. Located in a historic area of the state capital, the Circuito consists of thirteen institutions—including museums and cultural centers—that explore different aspects of the cultural and artistic world.

The MM Gerdau was built with the care of someone who carves a stone and transforms it into something precious; it was designed to highlight the striking connection between the history and cultural expressions of the state of Minas Gerais and the wealth of its mines and natural resources. It was also created to celebrate the identity of the state and its people, as it reflects the formation and development of a region, highlighting two of Minas Gerais’s main economic activities: mining and metallurgy.

The aim is to place mining and metallurgy in a historical context and to explore the role of metal in human life, illustrating its diversity, characteristics, production processes, and its place in the collective imagination. Metals are the most diverse elements in the chemical universe: understanding metals, minerals, and their components means understanding the fundamental driving force not only behind a society’s industrialization and development, but also behind life itself. Furthermore, discovering the wealth of our soil and the diversity of minerals is an invitation to a special journey through Minas Gerais—literally, in reference to the meaning of our state’s name.

The MM Gerdau – Museum of Mines and Metals was established and maintained by the EBX Group from 2008 to 2013. Beginning in December 2013, Gerdau took over maintenance of the facility, and as of May 2014, the museum has been known as the MM Gerdau – Museum of Mines and Metals.