Founded on December 22, 1870, the Santos Commercial Association (ACS) is directly linked to the development of the city and the country. Santos was still a colonial city when the institution was created by a group of businessmen to boost the growth of the port of Santos and, along with it, the economy of São Paulo and Brazil. The founders of the ACS and its members were decisive for many of the advances that the people of Santos saw in the following years: the organized port, the first local secondary school, the first opera house, and the first property security institution. An example of the importance of the ACS to Santos is that in 1891, during a political crisis, the population of Santos entrusted the entity with the administrative management of the city for a brief period.
Headquarters
Its headquarters, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024, is emblematic, located at 137 Rua XV de Novembro Boulevard in the Historic Center of Santos. Also known as the Palace of Commerce, its eclectic style makes it a cultural heritage site and a symbol of Santos' urban and commercial history. The building's history began in 1921 with the laying of the foundation stone, an event attended by illustrious figures such as President Epitácio Pessoa and the then-Governor of São Paulo, Washington Luiz.
Highlights
Visitors can explore the Marble Hall, a venue for public exhibitions; the auditorium, which hosts important forums and debates on development; the coffee classification laboratory, where traditional industry courses take place; and the Presidential Room, which features two rare paintings by Benedicto Calixto, "Santos in 1888" and "Panorama of the Port of Santos in 1895." Another noteworthy space is the Meeting Room, furnished with Eclectic-style furniture inspired by Portuguese and Brazilian design, with a strong predominance of Neo-Renaissance and Neoclassical references.
Golden Book
The Golden Book is another asset of the institution, containing signatures of illustrious visitors to the ACS, even before the construction of its headquarters. Emperor Pedro II inaugurated the book during a visit on August 30, 1875.