It is situated in an old manor which was bought as a present for Joaquim Pires Ferreira, a former senator of the Empire. The municipal cultural center holds exhibitions of its rare collections of objects and documentation relating to the life and work of Laurinda Santos Lobo, a refined and highly esteemed resident of santa teresa who lived between 1878 and 1946.

What distinguishes institutions of this kind from more conventional museums is that they tend to be of a smaller and more focused nature, their exhibitions and collections are more fluid, and they often showcase a diverse range of artistic forms, as well as regularly running interactive, educational events.