History of the Cuban National Museum

During the colonial period there existed no public places to elevate the culture of the people, but at the birth of the Republic , the development of the old libraries and new museum increased slowly in the principal provinces.

In Havana, a group of intellectuals presided over by the architect, Emilio Heredia y Mora, succeeded in interesting Dr. Mario Garcia Kohly, Secretary of the Public Instruction and Fine Art, when Major General Jose Miguel Gomez was president, in creating The National Museum . The  Decree of Feb.23,1913 established its formation, and on April 28 of the same year it was inaugurated in the old Fronton building on Concordia St. under the direction of the same Heredia, who succeeded in obtaining from many patriots and distinguished families varied objects of historic character and some works of art.

In 1915 it was moved to the beautiful building to the Quinta de Toca on Carlos III Drive, but being without official protection had to be closed until May 20,1919, when it was opened anew to the Republic by Dr Francisco Dominguez Roldan , Secretary of the Public Instruction during the presidency of General Menocal.

When the Quinta de Toca was sold in 1923, again the public was deprived of its exhibition, and it was moved to present domicile at 108 Aguiar St., where it was opened to the public on Feb, 6, 1924, then it was  moved with its contents to current place near Paseo del Prado,a new and beautiful  building constructed especially for historic and artistic purposes. When this occurred was an important step  taken for the Nation,with desires to live in the culture giving prime importance to such public establishments, on account of their popular character and on account of the democratic right of the people to know the artistic and historic progresses of their own country.

Its first Director and founder was the architect Emilio Heredia, who was able to obtain and preserve numerous objects of art, some donated by fellow citizens, others purchased by the state.

The National Museum, today, The National Museum of Fine Arts of Havana has preserved in the artistic section, originals of paintings and sculptures of our recent past as well as of contemporary times and certain foreign originals. 

Source: Cuban Magazine