historic center · Belterra, PA
Vila Americana
A residential complex built by Henry Ford's company from 1934 on for senior staff, with American-inspired houses, left by the company in 1945. A large water tower marks the entrance to the village, whose buildings are being restored.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Vila Americana
The Vila Americana (American Village) is the group of houses that Henry Ford's company built in Belterra, in western Pará, for the managers of the rubber plantation. It is the best place to see what the town the Americans planned in the middle of the Amazon was like.
Ford began building Belterra in 1934, after the difficulties at Fordlândia, upriver. The village houses were set apart from the workers' homes, on high ground near the Tapajós, and were intended for administrators and department heads. In 1940, President Getúlio Vargas visited the plantation and stayed in one of the houses. The company left the project in 1945, and the area passed to the federal government.
You explore on foot, along the village streets. A large metal water tower from the Ford era marks the start of the complex. Then come the American-style wooden houses, with porches, screened windows and gardens, and the fire hydrants on the sidewalks, another reminder of the American layout.
Several houses are family homes. So the visit is from the outside, looking from the street, without entering the yards. The ground is flat and easy to walk, good for all ages, and it pairs well with other buildings from that era scattered around town, such as the old hospital.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
An hour is enough to walk around the village; allow half a day to also see Belterra's other historic sites.
Best time
In the less rainy period, from July to November, early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when it is less hot and the light shows off the houses.
How to get there
Belterra is about 45 km from Santarém on the BR-163, reached by car, transfer or regional bus. The village is in the upper part of town, near the Tapajós; the water tower marks the entrance.
Tip
Go with a local guide from Santarém or Belterra: they will tell you which house hosted Getúlio Vargas and connect the village to Ford's other buildings in town.
A look at the place
Vila Americana in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Vila Americana
What is the Vila Americana in Belterra?
It is the group of houses built by Henry Ford's company, from 1934 on, for the administrators and managers of the Belterra rubber plantation, in Pará.
Who lived in the Vila Americana?
Ford's management staff, largely Americans. The workers lived in other neighborhoods of the town.
Did Getúlio Vargas visit Belterra?
Yes. In 1940, the president visited the Ford plantation and stayed in one of the houses in the Vila Americana.
Can you go inside the houses of the Vila Americana?
Several houses are family homes, so the visit is along the streets, looking from the outside. A local guide can tell you the history of each one.
How far is Belterra from Santarém?
About 45 km on the BR-163. You can go by car, transfer or regional bus and come back the same day.