The Museu Histórico e Artístico do Maranhão occupies a beautifully restored 19th-century palace in the historic centre, filled with period furniture, porcelain, silverware, and paintings that document the lives of the wealthy Maranhão elite during the cotton boom years. Room after room of mahogany furniture, imported glassware, and elaborate tableware gives a clear picture of just how rich this city once was.
The contrast between the museum's refined interiors and the crumbling facades outside on the street is striking and intentional. This is a city that had its golden age and then fell behind the rest of Brazil; the museum preserves the memory of when São Luís was one of the most important ports in the country.