Cuba in the 1950s – A Visual Tour of the Iconic Landmarks and Everyday Life

The 1950s were a time of glamour, excitement, and social change in Cuba. The island’s capital, Havana, was known as the “Paris of the Caribbean,” a city filled with stunning architecture, luxurious hotels, and bustling nightlife. Its streets were lined with classic American cars, and the sounds of mambo and cha-cha-cha filled the air, making Havana a popular destination for tourists from around the world.

The rich cultural life in Cuba during this time was not limited to Havana. The island was home to numerous theaters, art galleries, and music venues, showcasing the talents of Cuban artists, musicians, and performers. Cuban music was gaining international recognition, with stars like Benny Moré, Celia Cruz, and Perez Prado captivating audiences both at home and abroad.

However, the 1950s were not just about glamour and glitz. The decade was also marked by social and political unrest, as the Cuban people faced increasing levels of poverty, inequality, and corruption. The government, led by President Fulgencio Batista, struggled to maintain control as opposition to his rule grew. These tensions would ultimately lead to the Cuban Revolution in 1959, with Fidel Castro and his band of revolutionaries seizing power and transforming the island forever.

Amidst the turbulence, the Cuban people displayed incredible resilience and adaptability. Farmers worked the land, growing tobacco and sugarcane, while fishermen plied the azure waters surrounding the island. Despite the challenges they faced, the Cuban people continued to embrace their vibrant culture, using music, dance, and art as expressions of hope and resistance.

Here are some fascinating vintage photos that will take you back to the 1950s in Cuba.

#1 Cuban children seated outdoors

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#2 Cuban children stand front of their house

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#3 Cuban family in front of blue and white house with thatched roof

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#4 Equestrian statue in park, Havana, Cuba

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#5 Flamboyan, palms, thatched, tiled houses

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#6 Freight leaving La Isabela, Cuba, 1956

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#7 Group of children in field, horse grazing

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#8 Home in cane field, Cuba

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#9 Horse drawn taxis parked by plaza, Casanova store, Sagua La Grande

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#10 House in Sagua la Grande, Cuba

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#11 House with thatched roof, painted blue and white

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#12 Houses with thatched roofs, white horse grazing

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#13 Loading sugarcane near Ramona or Humagea, Cuba, 1956

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#14 Ox cart with caterpillar treads in back

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#15 Ox team pulling large wooden barrel

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#16 Oxen pulling large wagon load of sugarcane

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#17 Palm grove, Mamey, Cuba

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#18 Palms and flamboyan trees by house in Cuba

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#19 Pilings at water’s edge

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#20 Sea port town, La Isabela, Cuba, 1956

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#21 Street scene in Santiago de Cuba

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#22 Street scene, Santiago de Cuba

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#23 Streets in Santa Clara, Cuba

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#24 Streets in Santa Clara, Cuba

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#25 Taxis waiting in the shade, Sagua la Grande, 1956

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#26 Train load of sugarcane

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#27 Trolley with Canada Dry sign in Santiago de Cuba

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#28 Truckload of bananas

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#29 Two houses on ocean front, sailboat in Isabela de Sagua

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#30 View of city in Cuba by a bay

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#31 Waiting to unload at sugar central

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#32 White horse with saddle pulling cart loaded with sacks in Santiago de Cuba

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#33 A typical Cuban school

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#34 Boy and woman drawing water from well

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#35 Building with flowers over doorway

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#36 Bus converted into tram car on train tracks

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#37 Caritas in Rancho Veloz, Cuba, 1956

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#38 Casita in Mamey, Cuba, 1956

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#39 Casita in Rancho Veloz, Cuba, 1956

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#40 Children, laundry in houses built over water

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#41 Cienfuegos, city by the sea

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#42 City harbor with passenger ferry approaching

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#43 Couple and child in front of thatched building

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#44 General Electric Building, Havana, Cuba, 1950s

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#45 Streets of Havana, Havana, Cuba, 1950s

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#46 People walking along the streets of Havana, Cuba, 1950s.

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#47 Radio Cadena Habana, Havana, Cuba 1950s

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#48 Moishe Pipik’s Cuban Jewish Restaurant, Havana, 1955

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#49 Worker with Team of Oxen Hauling Barrels of Bacardi Rum, Cuba, 1950s

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#50 Rural Road Outside of Town of Vinales in Pinar del Rio Province, Cuba, 1950s

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#51 Street Scene with Trees in the Central Boulevard of Pinar del Rio, Pinar del Rio Province, Cuba.

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#52 Cuba, Military, Group of Castro Rebels in Central Cuba, 1958.

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#53 Plot of Land Beside House with Derelict Bus and Old American Car in Caleton, Cuba.

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#54 “Everyone Knows Sloppy Joe’s Bar at Havana,” c. 1950s. Creator: Grace Line.

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#55 Harbor Waterfront, Havana, Cuba, 1950s

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