at a glance

the rebel officers allowed all the enlisted soldiers to leave the fort, and the remaining seventeen officers were all lieutenants, accompanied by one exalted civilian - they then marched out of the fort, each man carrying a piece of the brazilian flag, and headed towards the presidential palace - the palácio do catete (catete palace) in order to present their demands for social and political reform.

they were surrounded by loyalist troops and only two of the eighteen survived the republican attack - the lieutenants' efforts that day became close to a legend forever to be known as 'the revolt of the eighteen', and in 1930, the ruling republic was eventually overthrown and the lieutenants became national heroes.  

later in the 20th century, during the years of the dictatorship, the fort was used to house political dissidents until 1987, when the authorities determined it would be the historical museum of the military.

the fort was built in the very same spot that was originally home to the small chapel that gave the name to this region of the city - 'nossa senhora de copacabana'. 

today, the fort houses a library and various expositions on brazilian military history and campaigns and the birth of brazilian nationalism.