Around 1900 Mato Grosso and the Amazon were connected with Brazil's commercial centre in the southeast of the country through the construction of telegraph stations. It was the military officer Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon, also known as Marechal Rondon, who was in charge of this groundbreaking work. Several of Mato Grosso's museums explain Rondon's work by means of photos and explanatory panels.
The Museum of History in Cuiabá
This museum focuses on the history of the state of Mato Grosso, the city of Cuiabá as well as Cândido Rondon's work. There are a several black and white pictures and a large overview map that outlines the telegraph lines Rondon constructed in west Brazil.
Praça da Republica. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8-11am / 13-17 pm. Free of charge.
The Rondon Museum, or Museo do Indio, in Cuiabá
Marechal Rondon is not only famous for the construction of telegraph lines through the pristine rainforests of Mato Grosso and the Amazon. During his expeditions he came into contact with many Indian tribes and developed a high regard for the Indians.
He stood up for them and in 1910 he founded the SPI – the first Bureau for the Protection of Indians. The Rondon Museum is focused on Indian tribes as well as on their relationship with Marechal Rondon. There is a beautiful selection of photographs, utensils and feather headdresses of the Indians.
University UFMT, on Avenida Fernando Correia da Costa. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8-11am / 13-17pm and weekends 8-11am. Free of charge.
A Replica of a Rondon Telegraph Station in Campo Verde
Twenty kilometres south of Campo Verde, east of Cuiabá, in Asentamento Capim Branco [also known as Colonel Ponce] the old telegraph station has been reconstructed and was only opened in July 2009. This small museum has photographs of Cândido Rondon on his expeditions, and of all the museums on Rondon this one has the most extensive explanatory panels on Marechal Rondon's life, his work as a constructor of telegraph lines as well as on his dedication to the rights of Indians.
Asentamento Taperinha Capim Branco, 20 kilometres south of Campo Verde along MT 344 road to Dom Aquino. Opening hours: Tue-Sat 07.30-11.30am / 1.30-5.30pm. Free of charge.
Cáceres – Palácio da Instruçao, or Museum of History
This small museum of Cáceres displays black and white photographs of Cândido Rondon and outlines his work. It also has a map with the telegraph lines constructed by Rondon.
Praça Major João Carlos. Opening hours: Tue-Sat 8am-5pm. Free of charge.
Museum of History in Diamantino
The almost 300-year-old town of Diamantino, north of Cuiabá, was once prosperous thanks to the diamonds that were found in this region. When Rondon passed through on his expedition in the beginning of the 20th century a telegraph station was constructed to connect Cuiabá with Porto Velho.
The museum has an extensive display of beautiful black and white photographs of Indian tribes. Separate rooms are dedicated to Marechal Rondon as well as to former US president Theodore Roosevelt who, together with Rondon, passed through this region in 1913-1914.
Avenida Conceiçao, centro Diamantino. Opening hours: Tue-Sat 07.30-11.30am / 1.30-5.30pm. Free of charge.
Museums About Cândido Rondon in West Brazil
Cândido Rondon was in favour of connecting Mato Grosso's "Wild West" with the more developed regions of Brazil in the southeast. Visiting historic museums in Mato Grosso gives a good insight into Rondon's life, work and philosophy of life. Note that all explanatory panels are in Portuguese only. Travellers interested in museums in west Brazil may be interested museums in Cuiabá and Campo Grande.
The Museum of History in Cuiabá
This museum focuses on the history of the state of Mato Grosso, the city of Cuiabá as well as Cândido Rondon's work. There are a several black and white pictures and a large overview map that outlines the telegraph lines Rondon constructed in west Brazil.
Praça da Republica. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8-11am / 13-17 pm. Free of charge.
The Rondon Museum, or Museo do Indio, in Cuiabá
Marechal Rondon is not only famous for the construction of telegraph lines through the pristine rainforests of Mato Grosso and the Amazon. During his expeditions he came into contact with many Indian tribes and developed a high regard for the Indians.
He stood up for them and in 1910 he founded the SPI – the first Bureau for the Protection of Indians. The Rondon Museum is focused on Indian tribes as well as on their relationship with Marechal Rondon. There is a beautiful selection of photographs, utensils and feather headdresses of the Indians.
University UFMT, on Avenida Fernando Correia da Costa. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8-11am / 13-17pm and weekends 8-11am. Free of charge.
A Replica of a Rondon Telegraph Station in Campo Verde
Twenty kilometres south of Campo Verde, east of Cuiabá, in Asentamento Capim Branco [also known as Colonel Ponce] the old telegraph station has been reconstructed and was only opened in July 2009. This small museum has photographs of Cândido Rondon on his expeditions, and of all the museums on Rondon this one has the most extensive explanatory panels on Marechal Rondon's life, his work as a constructor of telegraph lines as well as on his dedication to the rights of Indians.
Asentamento Taperinha Capim Branco, 20 kilometres south of Campo Verde along MT 344 road to Dom Aquino. Opening hours: Tue-Sat 07.30-11.30am / 1.30-5.30pm. Free of charge.
Cáceres – Palácio da Instruçao, or Museum of History
This small museum of Cáceres displays black and white photographs of Cândido Rondon and outlines his work. It also has a map with the telegraph lines constructed by Rondon.
Praça Major João Carlos. Opening hours: Tue-Sat 8am-5pm. Free of charge.
Museum of History in Diamantino
The almost 300-year-old town of Diamantino, north of Cuiabá, was once prosperous thanks to the diamonds that were found in this region. When Rondon passed through on his expedition in the beginning of the 20th century a telegraph station was constructed to connect Cuiabá with Porto Velho.
The museum has an extensive display of beautiful black and white photographs of Indian tribes. Separate rooms are dedicated to Marechal Rondon as well as to former US president Theodore Roosevelt who, together with Rondon, passed through this region in 1913-1914.
Avenida Conceiçao, centro Diamantino. Opening hours: Tue-Sat 07.30-11.30am / 1.30-5.30pm. Free of charge.
Museums About Cândido Rondon in West Brazil
Cândido Rondon was in favour of connecting Mato Grosso's "Wild West" with the more developed regions of Brazil in the southeast. Visiting historic museums in Mato Grosso gives a good insight into Rondon's life, work and philosophy of life. Note that all explanatory panels are in Portuguese only. Travellers interested in museums in west Brazil may be interested museums in Cuiabá and Campo Grande.
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