Casa de Cultura and Archaeological Museum

What: House of Culture
Where: Rua Dr. Bento Costa Júnior, 70 - Centro, next to Praça São Pedro (the clamshell stage at Pria do Centro).
Phone: (22) 2764-7676
Hours: Mon - Fri: 9am to 6pm, Sat - Sun: 2pm to 6pm

Built in the late eighteenth century to store nets, fishing gear and later to store salt, according to testimony from former residents. It was transformed into a residence in the early twentieth century. A colonial style house with the original roof tiles made ​​by slaves who molded the clay on their thighs. The collection inside is composed of furniture and objects dating from 1920.

Behind the main building is the Archaeological Museum of the Sambaqui da Tarioba, founded in 1967.

The museum was built over the excavation site where preliminary digging found ancient stones, pottery, animal teeth and even human skeletons from the ancient people who lived here and survived by hunting and fishing.

 

It was worth the visit. Ask for information bout the museum at the front desk of the Casa de Cultura. When I showed an interest, I got a private tour.

In addition to an exhibit hall, it houses craft workshops, a design workshop, and cultural space. The main exhibit hall has a new collection displayed about every month. Art and craft classes are held in a workspace behind the main building. More information on the classes to come.

Update - Oct. 12, 2011: According to this article on the Diario Riostrense website, the museum will be undergoing renovations later this year including building maintenance, new signs, new wall panels and visual programming panels. Lab and restoration work will also be done on some exhibits.

Click on the "Location" link below to see the exact location on Google Maps.