Brazil’s National Museum Reopens After Fire: A Cautionary Tale of Government Neglect

On the heels of a catastrophic fire that gutted Brazil’s National Museum in 2018, officials have announced a partial reopening of the historic institution in Rio de Janeiro. While this milestone is being touted as a victory for culture and resilience, it also serves as a stark reminder of how government negligence threatens national heritage and public accountability. The renovated museum—once the royal palace that hosted the united Portuguese-Brazilian empire before housing a collection of over 20 million artifacts—has finally reopened its doors to visitors after seven long years. Yet, the full restoration remains years away, with an expected completion...