Unidos do Viradouro was founded in June 24th of 1946, by Nelson dos Santos, known as the Raft, who loved samba drumming at his home atop Don Mário Viana. They competed in samba parade in Niterói for 39 years (1947 to 1985), crossing across the Bay to compete in Rio de Janeiro just in 1964 and 1965 and achieving no more than a 26th place (last) in Group B.
After being champions of Niterói eighteen times, Viradouro decided to make a concerted effort in Rio beginning in 1986 and working their way through the lower groups reached the top Special Parade level in 1991.
They were very pleased with their 7th place finish that year which is exceptional for a first year Special Group Samba School and meant they would be returning to the elite group of samba schools the following year. The theme honored Dercy Gonçalves and is particularly remembered for the last float which honored breasts.
In 1992, the schoold returned under the direction of Max Lopes with the theme "The magic of luck has come," the however luck was going against Viradouro not tell much about the luck in the show. One of the most beautiful cars of that carnival, which depicted a stunning Siberia with several Siberian huskies, caught fire and the fire became uncontrollable. Wings had to squeeze on the Avenue to allow the Fire Department access and a huge trail of black smoke covered the Sapucaí. The school did not falter and kept moving and singing.
Max Lopes remained the Carnavalexo for the Viradouroschool in 1993 and 1994 and then then Joaozinho Trinta took over breaking away from an acclaimed career at Beija-Flor. was two years to bring the shool to 3rd place and its first parade of champions appearance. However in 1996 the school finished 13th, just missing a return to the Access league.
Then came the grand parade of school in 97 with a performance still talked about called "Darkness, light, the explosion of the Universe", Viradouro on the Avenue gave a beautiful play of colors, contrasting black and white, light and dark. One of the highlights of this parade was to have touched the battery, the "quick stop" a few bars into the rhythm of funk, under the command of Mestre Jorjão. At the time the funk was still suffering from strong social prejudice. It was the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the school as well
Since then, the Viradouro been considered an elite school generally managing to get to into the Parade of Champions
In 2007, the School of Niterói bet its future on carnavalesco Paulo Barros, with the theme "The Viradouro turns the tables, and the school put its drum percussion unit on top of a large chessboard float. In his second year the plot "is the Shiver!", had some issues with harmony yet still finished in seventh place.
In 2009 carnavalesco Milton Cunha replaced Barros and the school from Niterói took to the boulevard with the plot "Vira-Bahia, pure energy," and ended in 8th place.
