Formerly, the square was named Liberty Square; precisely in 03/05/1936, with the inauguration of a pillar constructed to homage the governor of Minas Gerais State at that time, the square became denominated Benedito Valadares Square. In June 1, 1968, was inaugurated the People Cultural Center, a project idealized for the architect Aristides Salgado dos Santos set up to provide free mass shows of cultural, educational, artistic and recreational contents. With a Modern Art Salon, Public Library, Auditorium, Amphitheater with acoustic shell, toilets, lakes and a sculptural fountain. The project was rewarded by the Brazil Architects Institute and by the Polytechnic National Institute of Mexico.