Inside Brazil's Museu Nacional

Rediscover the collection before the fire in 2018

In collaboration with

Museu Nacional

The legacy of the Museu Nacional

Editorial Feature

What's next for Museu Nacional?

The story of Brazil's oldest natural history museum and Director Alexander Kellner's plans for the future

"It is important to stress that the Museu Nacional, despite having lost a significant part of its collection, has not lost its ability to generate knowledge!"Alexander Kellner, Director of the Museu Nacional

Online Exhibit

Step back in time and explore

Take a guided tour of the Museu Nacional before 2018's fire

"Our teams are still mobilized in efforts to safeguard pieces of our collections... hundreds of other pieces are being analyzed and recovered."Roberto Leher, Rector of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Before the fire: Rediscover collection highlights

Use Museum View to explore the museum as it was before the fire

Meet Luzia

The oldest skeleton found in the Americas

See Luzia before the fire

Visit Luzia in the museum in 360 degrees

Meteorite Bendegó

Brazil's biggest meteorite, and one of the largest in the world

Experience Meteorite Bendegó in its original setting

See Meteorite Bendegó in the Museu Nacional before the fire

The Titanosaurus

13 metres long, and a gentle giant

Meet the Titanosaurus as it was before the fire

Museum View captures this dinosaure as it was before the fire

Marajoara Vase

Beautiful Brazilian ceramics from 3000 years ago

Enjoy Brazilian ceramics as they were

Discover Marajoara Vases in 360 degrees

The Goddess Venus

An Ancient Greek sculpture from the original royal collection

See the Museum's rare collection of Ancient Greek sculpture

Museum View captures these rares objects before the fire

The sarcophagus of Sha-amun-en-su

The beautiful painted coffin of the 'Singer of Ammon'

Meet the 'Singer of Ammon' in 360 degrees

The sarcophagus of Sha-amun-en-su in its original setting in the Museu Nacional

A mummified cat

An ancient Egyptian offering to the cat goddess Bastet

Incredible mummies before the fire

Experience these Egyptian mummies as they were before the fire

At risk of extinction

Under threat, beautiful Brazilian butterflies and moths

Brazilian butterflies and moths captured in time

The museum's original display of native Brazilian butterflies and moths

Online Exhibit

Not your everyday accessories

Incredible artifacts of the indigenous peoples of Brazil

Explore the collection

Discover thousands of years of Brazilian and global heritage

Kumbukumbu: Remembering the culture of Africa

Discover the diverse cultures of Africa and their influence on Brazil

Cultures of the Mediterranean

A collection inspired by the passion of Empress Teresa Cristina Maria

Trapped in time

Fossilized dinosaurs, sabre tooth tigers and insects from the distant past

Archaeology from the early Americas

A fascinating glimpse into how our ancestors lived many years ago

Ancient Egypt

A rare collection objects gifted to the Royal Family of Portugal

Online Exhibit

The archaeology of the Sambaquis

A glimpse into Brazilian life 8,000 years ago

The Museu Nacional in 360˚

ExploreBaiana the dollKumbukumbu cloth doll

ExploreIndigenous maskBrazilian heritage

ExploreMeet LuziaThe oldest skeleton in the Americas

ExploreMeteorite BendegóBrazil's biggest meteorite

ExploreThe TitanosaurusA huge dinosaur 13 metres long

ExploreMarajoara VaseBrazilian ceramics from 3000 years ago

ExploreKarajá feathersIndigenous artifacts

ExplorePompeii frescoesStories from Italy

ExploreThe Goddess VenusAn Ancient Greek sculpture

ExploreThe sarcophagus of Sha-amun-en-suThe painted coffin of the 'Singer of Ammon'

ExploreA mummified catAn offering to the cat goddess Bastet

ExploreAt risk of extinctionUnder threat, beautiful Brazilian butterflies and moths

Find out more

The Museu Nacional

"The Museu Nacional lives on!"Alexander Kellner, Director of the Museu Nacional

Explore more

Exhibits

Artifacts

Museum Views

Interested in History?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.