Inspetoria de Monumentos Nacionais The federal agency dedicated to the preservation of historic sites in Brazil was created in 1933 under the name Inspetoria de Monumentos Nacionais (IMN). It was established as a unit linked to the National Historical Museum (NHM). IMN was established by Federal Decree No. 24,735 of July 14, 1934. Its main purpose was to prevent the export of historic objects from Brazil to the international antiquities trade and the demolition of buildings and monuments as part of the rapid urban reforms in Brazil during the early 20th century.
Serviço do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional The Serviço do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (SPHAN) was established in 1937 and replace to IMN; it was linked to the Ministry of Education and Health. SPHAN was established through Article no. 378 of the
"Estado Novo" Constitution of 1937) by
Getúlio Vargas, President of the Republic. The establishment of SPHAN was led by Education Minister
Gustavo Capanema and a team which included the poet
Mário de Andrade. The team, together with the lawyer
Rodrigo Melo Franco, undertook a project to research and catalog a large number of historic sites across Brazil. Rodrigo Melo Franco would lead the institute from
Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional SPHAN was replaced by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) in 1970. It again underwent various name changes again in 1979; the name IPHAN was reinstated in 1994. ==Chronology==