Porto hosts the exhibition "Um século e tanto: 130 anos da National Geographic", unprecedented show in Portugal that celebrates more than a century of history of one of the most iconic organisations in the world.


The exhibition at Natural History Museum of the Porto University (MHNC-UP) includes a wide range of photographs, maps, videos and other objects from the history of the National Geographic Society (NGS), as well as Portuguese exploration, that make known the importance of research and exploration in the various areas of science and technology.


Organised in nine sections, where visitors can learn more about NGS's early years, its present and future, and its mission, the exhibition reveals the institution's extraordinary history through its brand image. In this case, it is a selection of images and also objects from its museum in Washington D.C., to which are added 200 covers of the magazine's international and national editions, illustrating iconic moments of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.


"Um século e tanto: 130 anos da National Geographic" also focuses on the past and present of national exploration and research, showing photographs, illustrations, maps, and objects from the MHNC-UP collections and from partner organisations such as the Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa, Museu de Marinha and Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência - Universidade de Lisboa, which express how our curiosity has led us to embark on great adventures.


Highlighted are the " Padrão de Santo Agostinho" (stone pillar), placed by Diogo Cão in 1483, in Cabo de Santo Agostinho (now Cabo de Santa Maria), south of Benguela (Angola), watercolours and illustrations representative of Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira’s challenging scientific expedition to the Brazilian hinterland, carried out between 1785 and 1794, instruments used during the scientific expedition conducted by Hermenegildo Brito Capelo and Roberto Ivens to Africa’s inland in 1877, field notes, images, reports and herbarium specimens related to the scientific expedition to Serra da Estrela, made in 1881, and also specimens of mammals, reptiles and birds collected by Francisco Newton during his zoological expedition to Angola between 1903 and 1905.


The Portuguese exploration that is being carried out today will also be represented, namely through the stories by three Portuguese National Geographic grant holders who are developing key projects in areas as diverse as archaeology, ecology and nature conservation.


The exhibition is open until 19 July 2020 at the Natural History Museum of the Porto University (Rectory building), from Tuesday to Sunday, between 10am and 6pm.

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    Last updated 2022-12-06