Created in 1979, it has a collection of three other museums: the Anthropology Museum, the former Joaquim Nabuco Social Research Institute (IJNPS), the currently Joaquim Nabuco Foundation, the Pernambuco Arte Popular Museum (MAP) and the Açucar Museum, former Sugar and Alcohol Institute (IAA). In this way, its collection is characterized by a great variety of objects. The Museum has the mission of preserving and disseminating the cultural heritage of the Northeast region and, through creation and dialogue, contribute to social inclusion and to the strengthening of the cultural identity of the Brazilian people.