Construction began in 1919 and the state leprosarium was inaugurated on 23 December 1931. On 15 December 1936 there were 1 234 patients and its capacity was being extended to 1 600.
(Araujo, H C S. 'A lepra e as organizações anti-leprosas do Brasil em 1936'. Mem. Inst. Osw. Cruz, 1937:32 (1) 136-7)