The Rio Negro Palace was built in the beginning of the 20th century, in 1903, to be the home of a rich rubber exporter, the German Karl Waldemar Scholz who was also the President of the Amazon Commercial Association and Austrian Consul.
Known at that time as Scholz Palace, the building is a landmark from the period when the Amazon was one of the most prosperous states of the Union.
The decline of the rubber trade in the Amazon due to the development of gum production on the Asiatic continent, added to the outbreak of the First World War, which interrupted the line of shipment between Manaus and Hamburg, in Germany, caused huge damage to the German trader, who had to mortgage the property.
It was purchased in an auction by the rich rubber baron Luiz da Silva Gomes, the building was first rented to the Amazon State, in the Dr. Pedro de Alcântara Bacellar administration.
In 1918, despite the economic crisis that hit the Amazon and the criticism from his opponents, the Governor Pedro Bacellar acquired the property, which was then called Rio Negro Palace.
The Rio Negro Palace served as the Government office and the home of governors until 1959, and this period was over in the Gilberto Mestrinho administration. From this date, until 1995, it was used only as the Government office.
Heritage listed for the state history in 1980, the Rio Negro Palace is managed by the Culture Secretariat of the Amazon State Administration.
Open to public visitation, it is also used for the Amazon State Governor’s meetings and receptions with Chiefs of State, Ambassadors and other personalities.
Each one of the rooms pays homage to a governor of the Amazon state along the history of the Republic. In them one can admire the furniture in Manueline, Portuguese, English and Imperial style, besides the pretty pieces in oriental and Art Nouveau style.
The visitor may still appreciate the picture gallery of the Amazon State governors and the exhibitions: “The Executive Power in the State Constitutions”, which presents the constitutions created and their consequences to the executive power of the Amazon, and “Symbols of the State of Amazon”, which stresses flags, hymns and coats of arms.
Representing part of the history of the golden period of Belle Epóque, the building has a lookout in the highest tower, providing a privileged view of the city of Manaus, with the traffic of regional ships in the dark water of the Negro River standing out.
Recife, 28 June 2011
Each one of the rooms pays homage to a governor of the Amazon state along the history of the Republic. In them one can admire the furniture in Manueline, Portuguese, English and Imperial style, besides the pretty pieces in oriental and Art Nouveau style.
The visitor may still appreciate the picture gallery of the Amazon State governors and the exhibitions: “The Executive Power in the State Constitutions”, which presents the constitutions created and their consequences to the executive power of the Amazon, and “Symbols of the State of Amazon”, which stresses flags, hymns and coats of arms.
Representing part of the history of the golden period of Belle Epóque, the building has a lookout in the highest tower, providing a privileged view of the city of Manaus, with the traffic of regional ships in the dark water of the Negro River standing out.
Recife, 28 June 2011
sources consulted
CENTRO Cultural Palácio Rio Negro: Manual de Normas e Procedimentos. Governo do Estado do Amazonas, Secretaria de Cultura. Folder.
how to quote this text
Source: OLIVEIRA, Albino. Palácio Rio Negro. Pesquisa Escolar Online, Fundação Joaquim Nabuco, Recife. Available at: <http://basilio.fundaj.gov.br/pesquisaescolar>. Accessed day month year. Ex: 6 ago. 2009.