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After nearly seven years of reconstruction, Brazil's National Museum has reopened its doors to the public with a portion of the restored exhibits, receiving applause from officials and archaeological scholars alike.

On September 2, 2018, the museum suffered a devastating fire, ignited by a short circuit in the heating and air conditioning system around 7:30 PM local time. The flames rapidly spread through the building, resulting in shocking devastation. Subsequent assessments revealed that out of the 20 million items in the museum's collection, a staggering 92% were damaged in the inferno, which dealt a tremendous blow to the cultural heritage.

However, experts expressed relief that one particular artifact, known as Luzia—an ancient indigenous woman's skull from the late Paleolithic period—remained intact, marking it as the oldest human fossil in the Americas.

In the aftermath, restoration work began swiftly to salvage whatever artifacts could be restored. This restoration project cost approximately $95 million but faced significant delays due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Brazilian Education Minister Santana noted, “The fire that occurred in 2018 is well known to the Brazilian people. Since then, the restoration efforts have been underway.”

The government states that the overall completion of the reconstruction is expected by 2027, with select restored artifacts being temporarily exhibited now. Rector Medronho of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro emphasized that while further restoration work continues, a temporary exhibition will open today, allowing the public to gain insights into the progress of the restoration.

Located in the second-largest city of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, the National Museum was initially built in the early 19th century as a palace for the Portuguese Empire in Brazil. From 1889 to 1891, it temporarily served as the legislative chamber of the newly established republic and became the National Museum in 1892, becoming one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to natural history and anthropology.

The newly renovated National Museum has been equipped with modern solar panels on its roof and expanded educational facilities. Regrettably, over 10 million artifacts lost in the fire will never be showcased again. Subsequent reports touch on topics such as the opening of Tokyo's Antique Technology Museum, where the public can touch items and reminisce about the past, as well as a recent incident where a four-year-old accidentally broke a 3,500-year-old pottery vase in Israel, which the museum did not pursue charges and invited the child to return for a visit.