Interpretação Patrimonial em Museus: Uma análise do Museu Ferroviário e Portuário do Maranhão

Abstract

This research investigates heritage interpretation in museums, focusing on the Maranhão Railway and Port Museum, considering interpretation as a communication strategy that makes cultural heritage accessible, understandable, and meaningful to the public. The main objective is to analyze the use of heritage interpretation as a tool for the preservation and communication of cultural heritage within the museum context in Maranhão, aligning with the program’s Culture, Education, and Technology research line by exploring educational and communicative practices mediated through interpretive resources. This is a qualitative study, with bibliographic, documentary, and field approaches, adopting an interdisciplinary perspective that engages the Humanities and Social Sciences, particularly museology, history, cultural heritage, and heritage education. The investigation involved museum visitors selected by voluntary participation and employed content analysis and heritage interpretation categories to assess the effectiveness of interpretive media and institutional communication. Results indicated that the museum is attractive and has interpretive potential, although it presents limitations and specific characteristics that could be improved. This research contributes to the advancement of knowledge on heritage interpretation, demonstrating how mediation strategies can articulate heritage, memory, and identity, guide integrated cultural policies, strengthen administrative partnerships, and enhance the visibility and impact of museums and cultural spaces in diverse contexts, providing a foundation for future theoretical and practical research.