A Gruta dos Palhares: o turismo e seus valores como recurso didático na educação escolar (1879-2025)

Abstract

This work presents a study on the Palhares Cave, a historical and cultural heritage site located in Sacramento, Minas Gerais. The objective is to document the history of the uses of the space and the heritage recognition of this speleological site, aiming to explore its educational potential. The method uses historical-documentary research, encompassing records from the 19th century to the present day. The results indicate that the cave, originally called Rifaina Cave, served as a meeting and leisure place since the beginning of the 20th century. The presence of the Passig brothers, photographers, in the 19th century and the visit of Santos Dumont in 1931 are recorded. In 1915, it hosted scouts from Franca for educational activities, and in 1955, students from Ouro Preto carried out a geological expedition. The area belonging to the Palhares family was expropriated in 1965, becoming a Municipal Park. Official recognition occurred in 1997 through Municipal Law number 548, which promoted the listing based on its speleological, landscape, cultural, and touristic value. It is concluded that the Palhares Cave transitioned from private property to municipal public property. Currently, it is configured as a tourist attraction with modern infrastructure, maintaining historical relevance symbolized by the cross installed since 1918, consolidating itself as cultural heritage and an interdisciplinary educational resource with great educational potential.