at a glance

a center for research, conservation, education and preservation, the museu do índio is not only a reference for researchers and other ethnographic museums, but also stands as a firm partnership between these groups and the academics, with much of the museum's works conducted by members of the indigenous populations.

founded by darcy ribeiro, the museum was inaugurated, in 1953, during the commemorations of the day of the american indian. the old nineteenth century building was originally the home of an entrepreneur, but was transformed into the current museum, in 1978.

the museum houses a huge collection of various materials, which includes over 30,000 artifacts, papers and books, with over half a million historical documents on indigenous brazilian tribes.