Exhibition of the centenary of the opening of the Ports of Brazil
The national commemorative Exhibition of the centenary of the opening of the Ports of Brazil, also known as Brazilian National Exposition of 1908 or the National Exposition of Brazil at Rio de Janeiro, marked a hundred years since the opening of the Brazilian ports acelebrated Brazil's trade and development. It opened in Urca, Rio de Janeiro on 11 August, stayed open for 3 months and received over 1 million visitors. Location. The 41 person executive committee considered several locations in Rio de Janeiro, before selecting a 182,000  m2 site between Praia da Saudade and Praia Vermelha in Urca. Opening. The fair was opened (a month later than planned) by President of Brazil Afonso Pena. The main entrance was through a hundred foot high illuminated gateway designed by René Barba. On arrival, the president was escorted from Catete Palace to the opening gate by lancers from the 9th cavalry, and then escorted by the exhibition's commissioners to the central palace while canons were fired and the national hymn was played. Pavilions. There were pavilions from Brazilian states of Bahia, São Paulo, Santa Catarina, Minas Gerais, and the  Federal District of Brazil, along with a Portugal pavilion and ones for industry, Post and Telegraph, the Fire Department, a theater and a music pavilion. Bahaia state pavilion. The Bahia state pavilion, which occupied 54,359 square feet was designed by Italian architect Rafael Rebecchi. Its displays included artwork by Jose Rodrigues Nunes, Bento Capinam, Macario, and Victor Meirelles, and its external sculpture was by Rodolfo Bernardelli. Minas Geraes state pavilion. The Minas Geraes was also designed by Rafael Rebecchi. It had interior murals by Crispim do Amaral including a series personifying agriculture, mineralogy, manufactures and the liberal arts. Exhibits included  aspects of gold and diamond mining including a small quartz crushing machine and gold-washing machinery with washers and miners demonstrating the processes involved. São Paulo state pavilion. The São Paulo state pavilion was designed by Ramos de Azevedo. Its commissioners were Carlos Botelho and Antonio Barros Barreto, and it covered about twenty thousand square feet. Portugal pavilion. The Portugal pavilion building was provided by Brazil, designed by Francisco Isidro Monteiro, was inspired by the southern face of the Jerónimos Monastery. Industry pavilion. A military college on the site was converted to the industry pavilion for the expo (and afterwards  was used by the 3rd infantry regiment). States pavilion. This permanent building built for the exhibition, and is now the . Bangu textiles factory building. The Bangu textiles factory ("Fábrica de Tecidos Bangu") displayed its own woven materials. Music pavilion. The music pavilion was designed by Jorge Lossio, decorated by Benedito Calixto and intended to have an Egyptian appearance. Other contents. There was a skating rink, a Botanical Garden, fountains, gardens and a small railroad for the public. Botanic garden. The botanic garden was stocked by the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden and contained Brazilian flora, including palms, orchids and Amazon  parasites, the "Victoria Regia", "Laelias", Sophonites, "Epidendrums" and hundreds of roses. It included a conservatory, lay between the Bahia and Santa Catharina pavilions and received 1000 visitors a day.