Boqueirão Whaling Factory

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Açores > Santa Cruz das Flores > Santa Cruz das Flores > Boqueirão

Location

The Boqueirão Whale Factory stands at the northeastern edge of Santa Cruz das Flores, approximately 27 meters above the Boqueirão harbor. Surrounded by typical dwellings and green hillsides, its cylindrical chimney stands out against the coastal profile.

Starting from the center of the village, the building emerges, dominating the coastline, overlooking the Atlantic and the small bay where whalers were winched ashore, offering a setting that unites industrial heritage with the maritime landscape.

Origin and Evolution

Built between 1941 and 1944 by the whaling company Reis e Flores, it was intended for the processing of sperm whales caught around the island. The complex included four perpendicular rectangular blocks and a chimney over 20 meters high, covering an area of approximately 1850 m².

After the cessation of whaling in 1984, the building served as a warehouse and workshops for the Municipal Council until the 1990s. Classified as an Imóvel de Interesse Público (Property of Public Interest) in April 1999, it underwent a museumification project initiated in 2006, which preserved original machinery and added a floor to the west wing.

Architecture and Museological Environment

The structure features masonry walls and concrete beams that maintain the original industrial scale. Inside, the flensing machines and blubber cutters evoke the rhythm of whaling work, creating an atmosphere that recalls the daily lives of the laborers.

Since 2015, the space has functioned as a branch of the Flores Museum, exploring the entire process of sperm whale hunting and processing. Two recovered whaling boats offer a real perspective on the fragility of the vessels against the sea, while a 1970s documentary brings the memory of the fishing activities to life.