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Rio Branco, the capital of Acre, formerly called Empresa, the original designation of the headquarters of the rubber plantation so named, and later Penápoles, in honor of the 6th president of the Republic Afonso Pena, who governed the country from 1847-1909, owes its name to diplomat José Maria Paranhos Fleury Júnior.
Called Baron of Rio Branco, in honor of his father, the Viscount of Rio Branco, who served in the court of Dom Pedro II, he was the main articulator of the Treaty of Petrópolis, signed on November 17, 1903, in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Signing of the Treaty of Petrópolis: historic milestone that consolidated Acre as part of Brazil, sealing peace and territorial expansion in 1903/Photo: Reproduction
Out of respect for his memory and his articulation of the diplomatic agreement, the rulers of the Acre Territory named the fledgling capital after him.
And this Sunday (17), Acre celebrates what is considered one of the main works of the “Barão do Rio Branco” in the pacification of Acre and the expansion of Brazil’s territory on the border with Bolivia and Peru. Through the Treaty, on that day, Brazil gained a territory that it dreamed of being Brazilian, that fought for its sovereignty and that would become one of the greatest symbols of national resistance: Acre.
Nowadays, without disguising its pride, the Government of Acre celebrates the 121st anniversary of the Treaty of Petrópolis, rescuing the trajectory of a people who, against all adversity, won the right to be part of the Brazilian nation.
Signed between Brazil and Bolivia, the Treaty of Petrópolis sealed the end of territorial disputes and brought to Brazil a region rich in natural resources and unique cultural values.
In the middle of the Amazon rainforest – where rubber plantations boosted the economy and aroused international interest – Brazilian migrants and rubber tappers settled in officially Bolivian lands.
This occupation was not easy or without clashes: the Acreans, guided by leaders such as Plácido de Castro, led the Acrean Revolution and insisted on being recognized as Brazilians.
With the skillful mediation of the Baron of Rio Branco, the Treaty of Petrópolis ensured that this desire became reality, consolidating Acre as part of the national territory.
Nowadays, Governor Gladson Cameli, about to reach the middle of his second term, says that remembering this history is essential, not only because of his achievements, but also because of his commitment to preserving cultural and historical memory for present and future generations .
“Acre fought to be Brazilian and, today, our duty is to tell this story, keep our identity alive and honor the courage of our ancestors”, declared Cameli.
In recent years, the State government has made efforts to revitalize the spaces that narrate the entire history of Acre, contributing to the strengthening of the state’s cultural and historical heritage. The Rubber Museum, founded in 1978 and located in the center of Rio Branco, is one of the main symbols of this memory.
With nine rooms that date back to historical moments of the Acre Revolution and the rubber cycles, the museum has been revitalized and, today, presents itself as a meeting point for the people of Acre, where memories and objects from history are preserved and displayed to the public.
“This museum tells a very important part of our historical formation, and the doors are open to welcome the population and visitors”, says Minoru Kinpara, president of the Elias Mansour Culture and Communication Foundation (FEM).
Another emblematic site is the Autonomists Memorial, also in the center of Rio Branco, which celebrates the struggle to elevate Acre to statehood in 1962.
The space houses a mausoleum containing the remains of José Guiomard dos Santos, the “Father of Acre Autonomy”, and his wife Lydia Hammes, honoring the political articulations and movements that allowed Acre to assume its state identity.
In every detail of the Memorial, Acre’s history and pride are kept alive, reminding visitors that Acre is the only Brazilian State that won the right to be part of Brazil through a territorial struggle.
The Museum of the Peoples of Acre is the living memory of a people. Just over a year ago, the government of Acre delivered the first phase of the revitalization of the Museu dos Povos Acreanos, a project of great cultural and tourist importance for the region.
With an investment of more than R$ 16 million, made possible with its own resources and the World Bank, the historic building of the former Colégio Meta was transformed into a multifaceted and interactive museum, which brings together the State’s ethnographic, archaeological and historical collections.
At the Museu dos Povos Acreanos, the memory of the state is celebrated in several environments, such as the Sala Chico Mendes and the Sala Floresta Acreana, which portray the universe of the rubber tapper and the environmental struggle, immortalizing the image of the martyr of the forest. The Personalities Room, the Interactive Room and other technological spaces were designed to engage the public and preserve Acre’s rich legacy.
“This is a tourist spot that refers to our history and identity. The museum is a gift to the people of Acre, a tribute to who we are and what we want to preserve for the future”, highlighted Governor Gladson Cameli.
The museum also has a café area, an auditorium and an internal square, where artistic and cultural presentations are held, as well as a craft store, Bem Acreano, which offers local products that enhance the Acre brand, such as biojewelry, rubber items, ceramics and souvenirs that attract visitors from all over the country.
Long before the Treaty of Petrópolis and the Acre Revolution, Acre lands were already home to ancient civilizations that left impressive marks on the Amazon landscape.
The geoglyphs, mysterious geometric figures excavated in the soil of the region, are a testimony to the presence of indigenous people who lived in Acre long before the arrival of Europeans on the continent.
Proving how fascinating the history of Acre is at different times, in 2024, these prehistoric monuments gained worldwide prominence when appearing in the series Ancient Apocalypsefrom Netflix, which features actor Keanu Reeves and researcher Graham Hancock discussing the importance of these structures for understanding human history in the Amazon.
For the archaeologist at the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan), Antonia Damasceno, the potential of transforming Acre geoglyphs into a World Heritage Site is immense, but requires collective commitment and awareness.
“We have a cultural and archaeological heritage of inestimable value, but we need to appropriate it. This means educating people about the importance of these sites and ensuring their preservation so that they can become a heritage of humanity”, highlighted Damasceno.
Commemorating the Treaty of Petrópolis is, for Acre, honoring a history of struggle and a unique identity, which was forged with sweat, courage and blood.
On this date, the government of Acre is committed to ensuring that the legacy of our ancestors remains alive, preserving cultural heritage, recovering spaces of memory and creating new opportunities for tourism and historical knowledge, recalled the governor.
