Museo de la Revolution - Revolution Museum, Havana

This beautiful building was formerly the Presidential Palace of Dictator Fulgencio Batista. It was decided that it became Revolution Museum with a clearly symbolic goal: Revolution defeats Batista even at his own Palace. It was built at 1920 under the plans of Paul Belau (the same architect of the Grand Theatre) and Carlos Maruri. A good amount of decoration job was due to Tiffany, New York. It presently shows documents, photos and objects about Cuban struggle against colonialist dependence and with special attention to Revolution. It opens every day from 10 to 17.
Este hermoso edificio fue el Palacio Presidencial del Dictador Fulgencio Bastista. Se decidio que pasara a ser el Museo de la Revolucion con un objetivo claramente simbolico: la Revolucion vence a Batista incluso en su propio Palacio. Fue construido en 1920 bajo la direccion de Paul Belau (el mismo arquitecto que el Gran Teatro) y Carlos Maruri. Una buena parte del trabajo de decoracion estuvo a cargo de Tiffany, New York. En la actualidad muestra documentos, fotos y objetos de la lucha cubana por la independencia colonial, con especial atencion a la Revolucion. Abre todos los dias de 10 a 17.

The 1950s dictator Batista ? like all dictators ? had to try and impress cubans with a grand presidential palace. So it is ironic that this glorious palace, which he hardly had time to enjoy, now houses the Museum of the Revolution, a vivid exhibition displaying the struggle of the Cuban people to gain sovereignty over their own island. Exhibits include photographs, cinefilm, clothing, original documents and weapons. In the garden is the Granma Memorial ? the boat Granma in which Fidel Castro and over 80 foolhardy combatants returned to Cuba from exile in Mexico in 1956. Also scattered around the garden are various vehicles used in the struggle.

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Batista (like all dictators) had to try and impress the people with a grand presidential palace. It is ironic that this glorious palace, which he hardly had time to enjoy, now hosts the museum of the revolution, an exhibition of the struggle of the Cuban people to gain sovereignty over their own island. Exhibits include photographs, cinefilm, clothing, original documents and weapons. In the garden is the Granma Memorial. The boat Granma in which Fidel Castro and over 80 foolhardy combatants returned to Cuba from exile in Mexico in 1956. In the garden there are also some vehicles of that struggle.

The revolution's museum showcases what is important to those loyal to it today. It depicts the tough and often bloody history of Cuba with some vivid explanations.
What saddened me most was that the picture you see is the symbol of all revolutions...

The former Presidential Palace was lavishly decorated by Tiffany's. The dome in the center opens to the ground floor. Its interior is made of colourful ceramic tiles and is decorated with paintings. The grand marble staircase leads to the upper floors.

The Salon de los Espejos (Room of Mirrors) on the second floor is the former reception hall of the Palace. It is a replica of the room with the same name in Versailles. Huge mirrors are placed around the room and the high ceiling is covered with a beautiful painting. There is a lot of detailed works around the doors and arches.

Built in 1920 to house former Cuban presidents it is fitting that the revolutionary museum be housed here. The last president left in 1959 as a result of the revolution.
Walk from room to room to learn about the history of the revolution and how it became a socialist republic. Warning: Some of the photographs and artifacts may not be suitable for viewing by young children.
See if you can find the bullet holes in the marble when you go up the steps to the first level of the museum.
Walk to the back of the museum and you can see aircraft and other vehicles on display. I took this photo of a delivery truck that was bullethole sprayed in a raid during the revolution.

Built in the 1910s, the museum was the residential Palace for 40 years before the revolution. There is a watch tower in front of the museum entrance, which was part of the old city wall. On the opposite side, it sits a Soviet tank that was supposedly commanded by Castro at the battle of the Bay of Pigs.

The museum has a lot of exhibits, photos, artworks on Cuban hisotry, focusing on independence and revolution. Prepare to spend a couple of hours in here as it covers all the major political events since Spanish times.

There is an admission, and guided tours are available.

It is quite hot inside, with the occasional large fans.

The glass-enclosed boat named Granma carried Castro, Che and 80 other revolutionists from Mexico to Cuba in 1956. Around it are planes, cars and army vehicles used during the revolutions, including the remnants of a downed US military plane.

Must enter through the Museo de la Revolucion. (admission included)

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The Revolution Museum (built in 1920 by the architects Paul Belaue and Carlos Maruri) is a beautiful building which used to house the previous Dictator Fulgencio Batista, thus was the Presidential Palace. So, it's now a museum, probably for political reasons to symbolise that the revolution defeated Batista at his own palace!

It has many historical artifacts and is an interesting museum to visit. It's open from 10am to 5pm every day.

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The Museum of the Revolution was originally the Presidential Palace. All I can say is "Wow!" It is an absolutely opulent building, it's hard to take it all in. We spent about an hour touring the museum. We quickly tired of the Communist propaganda but couldn't stop gaping at the building itself! (Allegedly Tiffany's of New York originally did the decorating in the building.)

The museum is near the site where Fidel and Che originally landed in 1956 when they successfully overthrew the government.

It is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is 6CUC.