with the end of the imperial era and the proclamation of the republic the site was repurposed - and the then director of the national museum, ladislau neto, managed to transfer the institution to these ample and luxurious facilities.

it would remain there until modern days, functioning as an associate site for the federal university of rio de janeiro.  

today the old palace is the home of the museu nacional (national museum).

created in 1818 by dom joão vi, the museu nacional is the oldest scientific research institution in brazil.