Regional leprosarium for the western part of the state of Minas Gerais, created by Decree No. 11 087 of 25 November 1933. Construction began in 1936 under the direction of Dr Theophilo de Almeida.(Araujo, H C S. ‘A lepra e as organizações anti-leprosas do Brasil em 1936’.Mem. Inst. Osw. Cruz, 1937:32 (1) 137)