 When Santos Graça died in 1956, the museum started to decline and, in 1974, the building was bought by Póvoa de Varzim Town Hall to João do Ameal, Count of Ameal.The building was closed for works, but its collection kept being shown across Portugal and Europe, such as "Siglas Poveiras", winner of a 1980 International European Museum of the Year award, "Povoan costumes", "Archeology in the Municipality of Póvoa de Varzim"; "António Santos Graça - The Man and his Work", "Fishery, Sea Baths, Countryside life - a view of the community in times of change".The historical building was declared, by the Portuguese national monuments institute, as of public importance in 1985.