The Imperio is a replica of the first permanent imperio built in San  circa 1915 on the present site of the I.E.S. Hall on East Santa Clara Street and U.S. 101. The Imperio, like many of its counterparts in the Azores, was built to honor the Holy Spirit. It also served as the center of much social and religious activity. In San  José at the turn of the century, it represented the continuation of celebrated traditions which helped make the immigrants' transition from the old world to the new easier by maintaining strong bonds to their heritage.

The Imperio was dedicated on June 7, 1997, as part of the first annual Portuguese Festival, and is the showpiece of the Portuguese Heritage Society of California.

The Imperio consists of approximately 3200 square feet of exhibit space on the ground floor and in the basement.  The focus of the ground floor exhibit is the reconstructed Imperio altar. The altar serves as the backdrop for the explanation of the significance of the Holy Ghost celebrations. Another major showpiece is an etched glass map depicting the Portuguese world. This beautiful piece graces the building entrance, and through its view, visitors are introduced to Portuguese history and culture. Handcrafted natural wood cases house ever-changing exhibits on display.

Besides the altar and etched glass map, the other main attraction on the ground floor is a computerized Family Album . Here are recorded the family histories of thousands of immigrants and their families who have contributed to the development of California. This online archive will be constantly updated so that it will become a contemporary chronicle of the lives of today's immigrants as they continue to shape the communities in which they live. Visitors will be able to look up the lives of relatives and friends, see their pictures, read their diaries, see maps and pictures of the places from whence they came, and read their exciting stories as they struggled to make a life for themselves and their descendants.

On November 3, 2001, the Portuguese Heritage Society of California held a dedication of the Compass Rose, A Rosa os Ventos, a 19-foot diameter replica of the 130-foot diameter Compass Rose located at the Plaza of the coveries in Lisbon, Portugal.  This work of art, created in granite, is the centerpiece of the plaza in front of the Imperio.