Heimat Museum Witmarsum

Founded on 15 September 1989, the Heimat Museum Witmarsum preserves and tells the history of Colônia Witmarsum, a Mennonite community in Palmeira, Paraná, Brazil. Housed in the headquarters of the former Fazenda Cancela — a building listed as historical heritage of the State of Paraná — the museum traces nearly five hundred years of the Mennonite people, who originated in the Frisia region of the Low Countries in 1525 and eventually settled in Brazil after migrations from Russia. Exhibits include historic objects and photo-text panels covering religion, language, daily life and pacifism, and the museum welcomes around 12,000 visitors a year.