Santa Maria Museum grew from a collection begun in the late 1960s by Father José Maria Amaral to preserve objects and memories from the community. Its Santo Espírito museum unit occupies a two-storey house adapted for museum use and retains characteristic elements of rural Santa Maria architecture, including two tubular chimneys and the rounded form of its oven.
The collections explore the island's identity, ethnography, crafts, devotional practices and everyday life. The museum also presents temporary exhibitions, monthly collection highlights and educational activities. From October to March it opens Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm; from April to September, 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. It is closed on Mondays, and the building closes 30 minutes after last admission. The museum's general administrative contact is based in Vila do Porto.