Havana, Cuba before Castro

by Myself

Photos of Havana City, Cuba before the Castro brothers took power in 1959 and destroyed it. Even though Cuba was ruled by another dictator, Batista, these were construction, not destruction times.

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Calle 17, 1920

Calle 23 de A hasta L, 1954

Calle 23 de I hacia 12, aérea, 1954

Calle 23 en el Vedado, 1927

Calle 23 y 12, Vedado, 1950

Calle 23, inauguración 7-8-1954

Calle 23, Nacional, Infanta, 1946

Calle 26 de 11 a 24, Vedado, 1950

Calle 26, farola, 1947

Calle 26, prolongación hasta 23, 1947

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view all 288 photos

article published 6/28/2008

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To Marc in Calgary
What you wrote is exactly what I have tried to show other people who have felt in love with Castro and the Robolution. To answer your question, will Cuba return to what it was? Maybe, it is a different caliber of Cubans molded by the system, their incentives and hard drive are totally different from the Cubans of 50 years ago, however for some reasons God made us different and there are Cubans inside Cuba right now who I think with a lot of work can change the system.
— Satogato, July 25, 2009

To Myself (the person who posted these wonderful pictures of Cuba), I am currently involved in developing a documentary regarding the Pedro Pan children, which my sister is writing and directing. Our mother and here twin sister were just 2 of the 14,000 children who were sent to USA by their families and loved ones, in desperate times.

For the documentary, we are trying to locate pictures and/or videos of pre-communism Cuba. Similar to what you have posted here. Would it be possible to receive high-definition copies of some of your photographs, to be used in the documentary?

Anyone who has these sort of pre-communism Cuba photographs, please contact me at msdconsultingcompany@yahoo.com

Thank you!

Mike
— Mike Dennis, January 26, 2009

Too bad all those pictures aren't abailable for all the cubans in the island, so the new generation could compare "before and after."

Ismael
— Ismael, November 22, 2008

I am so glad these photographs have been posted. I left Cuba when I was only three years old and I don't remember anything. Growing up in the USA made me proud of being an American, but getting older has made be very proud of being Cuban and my heritage. It is so sad to see the progress in Cuba and see what it has become. I hope fidel (no caps)rots in hell were he deserves to be. So many families were broken apart and still have the desire to be in that beautiful country they will never forget, including me.
— Maria Perez (Sansaricq), September 12, 2008

OK.
thanks MYSELF..... you have given me a look to the PAST. And you have given me a look to the PRESENT...DON ROOKE
— DON ROOKE, July 31, 2008

Cuba la Bella
Thank you for posting such wonderful pictures of the Habana I remember and love. I believe most of these pictures were taken in the early 1950s when Fulgencio Batista was president. The three letters “MOP” shown on the signs means “Ministerio de Obras Publicas,” or Ministry of Public Works. The large public works were done during the presidency of Batista. There are photos of the construction of the sea wall in the Malecon, the Via Blanca, and the tunnel under Habana Bay. Also the removal of the Cable Cars and their rails; many streets were also repaved; the construction of the “Ciudad Deportiva” or stadium; the “Palacio de Bellas Artes” by the architect Alfonso Rodríguez Pichardo, construction began in 1951 and ended in 1954); the face lift of the “Colon Cemetery” and the Habana Zoo, etc. By 1959 many other such public works had also been completed. Such was the Cuba the castro (no caps please) brothers took over in January 1959
— Marcie B Soto, July 17, 2008

I appreciate so much the Havana's photos your are showing, they are wonderful. Thank you. Do you have something about the residences area, like Miramar, Vedado, etc.?
— Antonio Ugando, July 11, 2008

Brings back memories.....
Cuba is the best example of what communism can do to a country.
— emilio, June 30, 2008

I believe that Cuba is poised to enter a new era as the Castro regime fades into a fog like all of communism has. It will be fascinating to see what transpires in the next 10-20 yrs
— Clay Sneller, June 30, 2008

...lover of freedom
I'm amazed. None of these buildings look ready to tumble into the street, the avenues are paved.. like in a first world country, the people are working, like they have a vision of where they want to be in the world, nobody is sleeping in the street, rags for shirts and pants... no police around every corner... lurking for free ideas just wandering around looking for trouble... Really, as different a world as can be imagined. although I hope for it, I wonder, if it will ever return?
— marc in calgary, June 29, 2008