Designed in an eclectic style, inspired by the Grand Palais in Paris, the Tiradentes Palace, the historic headquarters of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj), turns 100 years old this Wednesday (06), as a significant part of Brazilian political memory in the heart of the capital of Rio de Janeiro.
To celebrate the date, there will be a special program aimed at the public. Throughout the week, the building will host free activities including guided tours, exhibitions, institutional events, and cultural events.
The commemorative agenda extends until the 8th and seeks to bring the population closer to the history of the Rio de Janeiro State Parliament. Among the planned initiatives are the launch of a commemorative stamp in partnership with the Post Office, the awarding of the Centenary Medal, and the staging of theatrical tours.
Special programming marks the week.
Activities begin on Tuesday (05), with the debut of a new itinerary in the daily guided tour, focusing on the architecture and arts present in the building. The route proposes a reading of the space based on elements such as sculptures, paintings and allegories, highlighting symbolic and historical aspects of the Tiradentes Palace.
The following day, the date on which the building turns one hundred years old, a legislative session is scheduled, in addition to the ceremony for the awarding of the Centenary Medal. A commemorative stamp and a special postmark alluding to the date will also be launched, developed in partnership with the Post Office.
Interactive visits and activities
On the 6th, the public can participate in theatrical guided tours, held hourly starting at 10 am. The aim is to present episodes from the building's history through the performance of characters who help contextualize different political and institutional moments.
The program continues on Thursday (07), with the screening of an unreleased episode of the documentary Memories of Parliament – 100 years special, produced by TV Alerj. On Friday (08) House employees will be honored in an activity that includes a themed guided tour about the functioning of the Palace.
Exhibition and historical context
Throughout the week, visitors can also check out the exhibition Baixada Fluminense: Art in the Palace, which brings together works by artists from different municipalities in the region. The exhibition remains on display until May 27th.
Inaugurated on May 6, 1926, the Tiradentes Palace has established itself as one of the main historical and cultural landmarks of the state. In addition to hosting legislative activities, the space hosts institutional and cultural events, such as exhibitions and concerts, and offers free daily admission.
“It is a building that has been the stage for much of the political history of our state and the country. It is one of the most important cultural facilities and has received special attention from the Assembly in its maintenance, conservation and preservation of its vast and important collection. The palace is an asset of the people of Rio de Janeiro,” said the president of Alerj, Douglas Ruas (PL).
The House's Director of Culture, Fernanda Figueiredo, stated that the programming seeks to reinforce the space's role as an environment for public participation: “By promoting a diverse and accessible cultural program, Alerj values the plurality of voices that make up our society and strengthens democracy through culture, which is, above all, an instrument of citizenship and belonging.”
Colonial origins of power
Long before the current building, the site already played a central role in public administration. In 1640, the first building was erected there, housing the old Town Hall and Jail, responsible for administrative functions and social control. The Praça Quinze area, since the colonial period, was considered strategic for the functioning of power.
The proximity between the town hall and the prison had strong political symbolism, representing Portuguese dominance and the Crown's ability to exert institutional and social control over the territory.
This character is reinforced by one of the most significant episodes in national history: it was in this space that Ensign Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, Tiradentes, remained imprisoned for three days before his execution on April 21, 1792.
The construction of the modern palace
The transformation of the space into the current Tiradentes Palace began in December 1921, when President Epitácio Pessoa sanctioned the law authorizing the work. The following year, the old prison was demolished, paving the way for the construction of the new building, which was inaugurated on May 6, 1926, as the headquarters of the Chamber of Deputies.
The project was developed during a period of economic challenges and political instability, in the post-World War I era and during the government of Artur Bernardes. This context contributed to the construction having reduced costs, estimated at about half the value of the Pedro Ernesto Palace, the current headquarters of the Rio de Janeiro City Council.
To make the construction feasible, the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies requested support from the federative units, which contributed with materials, furniture, and works of art. The use of reinforced concrete, then an innovative and more accessible technique, also helped to reduce costs and marked the building as a benchmark in construction solutions of the time.
The political role throughout the 20th century
Between 1926 and 1960, the Tiradentes Palace was the site of the activities of the Chamber of Deputies, including legislative sessions and presidential inauguration ceremonies, from Washington Luís to Juscelino Kubitschek. During this period, the building consolidated itself as one of the main centers of national political power.
During the Estado Novo (New State) regime established by Getúlio Vargas, the Parliament was closed, and the building became home to the Department of Press and Propaganda. During this period, the space underwent significant changes, with the former presidential office transformed into the director's office and common areas adapted for broadcasts of the Hora do Brasil (Hour of Brazil) program.
Historical landmarks preserved
Traces of this phase still remain inside the building, such as the bust of Getúlio Vargas. Furthermore, the Tiradentes Palace brings together a series of elements that help tell the political history of the country through details that are often subtle.
Among these elements are plaques distributed throughout the halls, which record episodes, tributes, and institutional transformations. In the Getúlio Vargas Hall, for example, references to the former president coexist with mentions of figures such as Juscelino Kubitschek and Carlos Lacerda, reflecting different moments and visions of Brazilian politics.
Details that tell the story.
Other plaques commemorate significant events, such as the merger of the states of Rio de Janeiro and Guanabara, as well as tributes to historical figures like José do Patrocínio.
These records function as a kind of permanent archive, allowing visitors to understand the country's political trajectory through the spaces and symbols present in the building.
Nearly a century old, the Tiradentes Palace remains one of Rio de Janeiro's main historical and cultural landmarks, bringing together architecture, memory, and politics in a single space.
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