National Museum of Brazil

The home of Bendegó, the 5.4-tonne iron that survived the fire that destroyed the museum in 2018.

Key facts

Where

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Kind

Museum

Visiting

Public galleries

The Museu Nacional in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's oldest scientific institution, displays Bendegó, the largest meteorite found in Brazil. This iron of about 5.4 tonnes was found in 1784 in the state of Bahia. An early attempt to move it ended when its cart ran away down a slope into a stream bed, and it stayed there for about a century until it was finally carried to Rio in 1888.

On 2 September 2018 a fire destroyed most of the museum's building and collections. Bendegó stood in the entrance hall and came through undamaged, and it became a symbol of the museum's survival and rebuilding. Bendegó is a IC iron, a small and uncommon chemical group.

Highlights

• Bendegó about 5.4 tonnes, survived the 2018 fire Iron, IC

Related pages

Opening times, what is on display and access to research collections change over time, so check with the institution before you visit.