Timeline of Cuiabá history

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Pre-colonial period

• The great Cuiabá region was home to the Bororo peoples, among others.

18th century

• 1719 – April 8th. Gold discovery at Forquilha on the Coxipó River as reported by the bandeirante Pascoal Moreira Cabral; the date is used to commemorate the founding of Cuiabá^[1]
• 1719 – Cabral built first chapel in area of Cuiabá dedicated to Our Lady of Peñafrancia^[2]
• 1722
  • October. Discovery of gold on the farm of Miguel Sutil on the hill of the present-day Church of Rosário and São Benedito^[3]
  • "Vila Real do Senhor Bom Jesus de Cuiabá" created by Royal Provision of 1722^[4]
• 1726
  • Arrival of Captain-General Governor Rodrigo César de Menezes of the Captaincy of São Paulo, representative of the Kingdom of Portugal^[3]
  • Construction of Church of Our Lady of Good Delivery, a chapel^[3]
• 1727
  • January 1st. César de Menezes elevates Cuiabá to the category of town (vila) under the name "Vila Real do Senhor Bom Jesus de Cuiabá", places a pillory as a symbol of Portuguese royal power^[3][4]
  • Construction of the Church of Rosário and São Benedito^[4]
• 1732 – End of gold production^[3]
• 1745 – December 6. Territorial Prelature of Cuiabá established from the Diocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro^[5]
• 1748 – Creation of the Captaincy of Mato Grosso^[3]
• 1751 – Arrival of the 1st Captain-General, Antônio Rolim de Moura Tavares^[3]
• 1751 – Tavares establishes Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade as capital of the Captaincy of Mato Grosso^[3]
• 1781 – First Chapel of Saint Gonsalo in Prainha, later the Church of Saint Gonçalo^[4]
• 1787 – First known depictions of the city of Cuiabá^[3]
• 1790 – Philosophical Journey Passage of Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira leaves detailed description of Cuiabá^[3]

19th century

• 1818
  • September 7. Declaration of the Independence of Brazil in the state of São Paulo; Cuiabá initially remains part of the Kingdom of Portugal
  • Opening of the War Arsenal by the Portuguese Crown, now the SESC Arsenal
  • September 17. Elevation of the Village of Cuiabá to the category of city (cidade) by the Portuguese Crown^[3]
• 1822 – Cuiabá becomes part of the Empire of Brazil^[3]
• 1825 – Population of Cuiabá: 4,287^[6]: 83
• 1826 – July 15. Territorial Prelature of Cuiabá elevated to Diocese of Cuiabá^[5]
• 1834 – May 30. Rusga, a popular revolt against the remaining Portuguese, who controlled businesses in Mato Grosso and the Municipal Guard of Cuiabá
• 1835
  • July 3. First Provincial Legislative Assembly of Mato Grosso, held at the Provincial Assembly of Mato Grosso building in Cuiabá
  • August 28. Cuiabá becomes capital of the Province of Mato Grosso, replacing Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade^[3]
• 1850 – Population of Cuiabá: almost 11,0000^[6]: 83
• 1864
  • Start of the Paraguayan War; Cuiabá threatened with invasion and serves as arsenal military base for Brazilian campaigns
  • November 2. Opening of Piedade Cemetery, the first municipal cemetery in the city
• 1870
  • End of Paraguayan War
  • Opening of inland navigation to Cuiabá^[1]
• 1870 – End of Empire of Brazil, establishment of First Brazilian Republic^[3]
• 1896 – August 29. Opening of State Treasury Building of Mato Grosso, a multiuse government building^[1]

20th century

• 1910 – March 10: Diocese of Cuiabá becomes Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cuiabá^[5]
• 1914 – August 15: Inauguration of Palace of Instruction, a large secondary school in the city center^[7]
• 1920s – Renovations to the façades of the Old Cathedral of Cuiabá and Church of the Rosário and São Benedito
• 1921
  • May 22. The Mato Grosso Academy of Letters established under the name Mato Grosso Center for Letters ^[8]
  • Construction of the Eucharistic Shrine of Our Lady of Good Delivery on site of chapel of Church of Our Lady of Dispatch
• 1937-45 – Installation of interventor Júlio Müller; expansion of Avenida Getúlio Vargas and construction of the "Official Works"^[1]
• 1942 – May 23. Opening of Cine Teatro Cuiabá, the first large cinema in the city
• 1958 – Demolition of Old Alencastro Palace (Palácio do Governo), Tax Station, and Barão de Diamantino Palace for the construction of the modernist Alencastro Palace^[1]
• 1962 – Opening of Avenida Ten. Cel. Duarte (Av. da Prainha)^[1]
• 1965
  • 18 December. Inauguration of Palácio Alencastro ^[9]
• 1968 – Demolition of the Old Cathedral
• 1975 – Federal listing (tombamento) of the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Benedict
  • October 11. Division of Mato Grosso and creation of Mato Grosso do Sul state^[1]
• 1987 – Federal listing (tombamento) of the Historic Center of Cuiabá^[1]

21st century

• 2001 - Foundation of Cuiabá Esporte Clube, Cuiabá's team within Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
• 2006 - Opening of Mato Grosso History Museum in the former State Treasury Building of Mato Grosso
• 2014 - April 26. Opening of Arena Pantanal, the largest soccer (association football) stadium in Cuiabá
• 2020 - Beginning of COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, leading to 20,068 deaths in Cuiabá^[10]