The Inspetoria de Monumentos Nacionais of the Museu Histórico Nacional and the preservation of OuroPreto’s monuments (1934-1937)

Abstract

This article analyzes the actions of valorization and defense of Ouro Preto carried out by Gustavo Barroso, as director of the National Historical Museum, between the decades of 1920 and 1930. Understanding these actions as part of a writing project of history which had the old capital of Minas Gerais as the main reference, seeks to identify the paths towards the city’s official recognition as a National Monument in 1933 and to know Barroso’s role in that process. After that, it studies the restorations of monuments of old Vila Rica carried out under Barroso’s responsibility, especially those performed through the National Monuments Inspection (IMN), which was a department of the MHN between 1934 and 1937. In addition to characterizing the regulations and the practices of this department, identifying the agents involved in its activities, questions its omission in the historical memory about the public policies of preservation of the heritage in Brazil.