Portuguese Historical Museum, San Jose

About Portuguese Historical Museum

The Portuguese Historical Museum, which opened in 1997, is one of the major attractions of History San José. The museum is a replica of the first permanent império, or Chapel to the Holy Spirit, built in San José around 1915. It depicts life in the Santa Clara Valley at the turn of the 20th century, when Portuguese immigrants used the império as a center for social and religious activity. The building honors the Holy Spirit and represents the continuation of celebrated traditions that helped immigrants maintain strong bonds to their heritage during their transition to the new world. The museum features approximately 3,200 square feet of exhibit space across two levels. On the ground floor, the emphasis is on a reconstructed altar that serves as the backdrop for explaining the significance of the Holy Spirit in Portuguese culture and community life. The museum is located in San Jose, California.