João Tomás Bettencourt House Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Açores > Santa Cruz da Graciosa > Guadalupe > Caminho da Igreja

Location

The João Tomás Bettencourt House Museum is located on Caminho da Igreja, in the parish of Guadalupe. This locality, part of the municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa, offers a serene setting characteristic of the island's rural environment, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the tranquility and daily life of Graciosa.

The Figure of João Tomás Bettencourt

The museum honors the memory of João Tomás Bettencourt, born in Guadalupe in the second half of the 19th century. His story is that of a humble man who became a pillar of the community. He dedicated himself to itinerant trade, traversing the paths and country lanes of Graciosa on his donkey, loaded with a large basket, delivering essential goods directly to people's homes. It was this man who built the house that now hosts the museum, and some of his offspring followed in his footsteps in the commercial sector, perpetuating his legacy.

The Shop That Shaped Lives

For several decades, João Tomás Bettencourt's house functioned as the most significant commercial establishment in Graciosa. It was a place where a wide range of products could be found, essential for daily life and for setting up new homes. Many transactions were carried out through direct exchange for agricultural products, reflecting the economy and customs of the time. This shop was a meeting point and a reference for the island's inhabitants, and its importance still echoes today in the stories told by the oldest residents of Graciosa, who hold vivid memories of this space.

A Living Testimony of Graciosa

In 2014, this historic commercial house was reopened as a unique museum. Its collection is truly remarkable, consisting of a vast set of objects donated by the inhabitants of Graciosa themselves over 23 years, which gives the space profound authenticity and a genuine connection to the community. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in the daily life of Graciosa's residents, revisiting the period from the late 19th century to the mid-1980s. The conversion of the shop into a museum followed international guidelines, with the support of museology experts, ensuring the preservation and proper presentation of this invaluable heritage that reflects the island's identity and experiences.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt