The Museum of the Revolution in Havana is one of the must-see attractions. First of all, because "Cuba" and "revolution" have become almost synonymous in the minds of the world public. Secondly, because the building itself, which now houses the museum, is a historical and architectural monument. Previously it was neither more nor less as a presidential palace and looks very nice.

The palace was designed in the style of neoclassicism, built in 1920 and almost 30 years, until the revolution, served as the official residence of all Cuban rulers. According to Cuban historians, the then president, Menokal, who built the palace for himself, spent more than three million US dollars from the state treasury to hire Cuban Carlos Maruri and Belgian Paul Belau as chief architects. Interior design was done by the New York Tiffany's, which received almost a half million for it.

Immediately after the overthrow of the Batista regime, the palace was turned into a museum, and, despite the fact that most of the forging and glass stained-glass lamps of the "Tiffany" palace lost, the original mirrors and glass chandeliers can still be seen in the Mirror Hall. The latter was created in the likeness of the Versailles Mirror Hall of the 17th century. The second particularly noteworthy hall of the palace is the presidential office, where the original furniture and decor elements of the 40's were preserved

In the museum's 30 rooms there are approximately 9,000 exhibits. The expositions affect not only the revolutionary period, but also the history of the island on a larger scale since the 15th century. Of course, the main focus here is on the 50-60 years of the last century, but there are also exhibits relating to the war of independence from Spain and the pre-revolutionary years. These are photographs, newspapers, letters, clothing, reconstruction of battles, weapons, sculptures. Not surprisingly, in Cuba, the Museum of the Revolution is considered the most important of all three hundred or more museums on the island.

Passing through a wide marble staircase, a detailed examination of the walls shows the bullet traces left by the unsuccessful attempt of students on Batista on March 13, 1957. Among the curious (and sometimes funny) exhibits of the museum is Dragon-I, a small agricultural tractor converted into a tank ; wax mannequins full-length, depicting Guevara and Cienfuegos in the field (their real rifles and caps are shown separately); golden phone Batista and space suit of the first Cuban cosmonaut Arnaldo Mendes.

Side to the front of the museum is the domestic SU-100 self-propelled gun. And in the garden behind the palace in a special glassed pavilion is placed the yacht Granma, on which rebels led by Fidel sailed to the island in 1956 from Mexico to begin a revolutionary struggle with the dictatorship. It is surrounded by missiles, which in the course of the Caribbean crisis, the American Lockheed-spy, and its engines, were shot down.

Address: Habana, Avenida Belgica.

Museum of the Revolution in Havana

Entrance to the Museum of the Revolution in Havana

The main hall, the Revolution Museum in Havana

Dome, Revolution Museum in Havana

One of the posters, The Havana Revolution Museum

One of the exhibits, the Revolution Museum in Havana