The Museum of the Acrean Peoples, located in downtown Rio Branco, Brazil, has been documenting and showcasing the rich history and culture of the remote state of Acre since August 2023. The museum provides a space for the public to explore Acre's past, including its prehistoric era with exhibits like a well-preserved Purussaurus fossil.
The establishment of the museum was made possible through the Acre Social and Economic Inclusion and Sustainable Development Project (ProAcre), supported by the World Bank. Approximately R$ 16 million (around USD 2.8 million) was invested to convert an old school into this cultural attraction.
Visitors can explore seven air-conditioned exhibition areas featuring special lighting, an internal atrium, an auditorium, a café, and a souvenir shop. The museum's collection includes furniture, artworks, archaeological and paleontological finds, as well as multimedia resources that aim to expand knowledge and foster sociocultural development.
Notable exhibits include the Chico Mendes Room and spaces dedicated to famous Acreans such as musician João Donato, novelist Glória Perez, and politician Enéas Carneiro. An interactive room offers visitors activities like solving a crossword puzzle to learn local slang.
The building housing the museum has a storied history dating back to 1952 when Italian friar André Morini Ficarelli began constructing it as a boys' boarding school. Over time, it became known for cultural and sports activities as well as student movements led by figures like Chico Mendes. Marina Silva, currently Brazil's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, also taught classes there.
After being abandoned in 2005 when Meta School moved locations, the building was expropriated by the Acre government in 2016. Renovations began two years later to transform it into its current form as a museum.
Since opening its doors between August 2023 and January 2025, over 32,000 people have visited the Museum of the Acrean Peoples. It highlights both indigenous cultures and those who migrated for work opportunities while enhancing Rio Branco's historic center with its colorful houses along the Branco River.
"ProAcre made this and other investments in properties representing the state's cultural and historical heritage," said Fatima Amazonas from the World Bank. Aline Albuquerque, now a technical advisor to the State Civil House Secretariat but formerly a Meta student herself expressed her happiness about how well-utilized this space has become.
To visit these attractions at Museu dos Povos Acreanos online scheduling is required: https://linktr.ee/MuseuDosPovosAcreanos