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Black and White Havana Photos from 1960s

As anyone reading this could plainly see, I am in love with Havana. This is a city that has more character than any other on earth. From the eccentric, generous people, the the old, charming architecture, there is always something wonderful to see in Havana, whether you are in Old Havana, Central Havana or Vedado.

And, the amazing thing about this city is that, in many way, aesthetically, it is like a time capsule, preserved for decades, but open for the whole world to see. Not only are the cars mostly the same today as they would have been 50 or 60 years ago, but the buildings, street signs, layout and colors are almost identical as well. It’s an amazing sight to see.

Below, I have a presentation of some gorgeous old Havana photos, from the 1950s and 60s. For anyone who has visited the city recently, you will immediately see that, Havana has not changed much at all. In fact, if these Havana photos were colorized, you would probably have trouble determining if they were taken yesterday, or a half century ago. Enjoy this montage and allow your mind to think back to “the old days” or start dreaming about Havana, or start planning you next trip!

 

Havana Photos from the 50s and 60s

Ave 20 de mayo y la Calzada de Ayestarán, La Habana, Ca. 1960.

Ave 20 de mayo y la Calzada de Ayestarán, La Habana, Ca. 1960.

El Obelisco", Ave. 31 y 100, Marianao, La Habana, Ca. 1949

El Obelisco”, Ave. 31 y 100, Marianao, La Habana, Ca. 1949

Fruit sellers on the Havana Malecón, La Habana, March 30, 1949

Fruit sellers on the Havana Malecón, La Habana, March 30, 1949

Havana Hilton Hotel - Avenida 23 (La Rampa), corner L Street, Vedado, La Habana. Ca 1958

Havana Hilton Hotel – Avenida 23 (La Rampa), corner L Street, Vedado, La Habana. Ca 1958

Prado y Neptuno, Hotel Telégrafo, La Habana, Ca. 1955

Prado y Neptuno, Hotel Telégrafo, La Habana, Ca. 1955

Heladería Coppelia, Vedado, La Habana, Ca. 1966.

Heladería Coppelia, Vedado, La Habana, Ca. 1966.

George Raft at Casino de Capri. Havana, Cuba March 1958

George Raft at Casino de Capri. Havana, Cuba March 1958

Construction of the Ministry of Communications Building, 1954, Avenida Rancho Boyeros, La Habana.

Construction of the Ministry of Communications Building, 1954, Avenida Rancho Boyeros, La Habana.

Flogar Store Corner Galiano y San Rafael, La Habana, Ca. 1958 - Credit to Sr Carlos Alberto Fleitas for the photo.

Flogar Store Corner Galiano y San Rafael, La Habana, Ca. 1958 –
Credit to Sr Carlos Alberto Fleitas for the photo.

Infanta y San Lázaro, La Habana, 1952

Infanta y San Lázaro, La Habana, 1952

La Rampa, La Habana, ca. 1973

La Rampa, La Habana, ca. 1973

Hotel Habana Riviera en 1957, Vedado, La Habana.

Hotel Habana Riviera en 1957, Vedado, La Habana.

Avenida de los Presidentes, La Habana, 1975

Avenida de los Presidentes, La Habana, 1975

El Encanto department store in Havana 1955 - Tienda por departamento "El Encanto", La Habana, ca. 1955

El Encanto department store in Havana 1955 –
Tienda por departamento “El Encanto”, La Habana, ca. 1955

Miramar Yacht Club (Now Casa Central de las FAR). Miramar, La Habana, ca. 1957.

Miramar Yacht Club (Now Casa Central de las FAR). Miramar, La Habana, ca. 1957.

Sierra Maestra Building, Miramar, La Habana 1973

Sierra Maestra Building, Miramar, La Habana 1973

5th Avenue, Miramar

5th Avenue, Miramar

Salon Cristal on Prado street, 1957 - Salón Cristal en Prado y Virtudes, La Habana Ca. 1957.

Salon Cristal on Prado street, 1957 –
Salón Cristal en Prado y Virtudes, La Habana Ca. 1957.

View from Presidential Palace, La Habana, January 1957

View from Presidential Palace, La Habana, January 1957

Omnibus Station in Havana, inaugurated in 1951 - La Estacion Central (Terminal de Omnibus) de La Habana, fue inaugurada el 9 de junio de 1951.

Omnibus Station in Havana, inaugurated in 1951 –
La Estacion Central (Terminal de Omnibus) de La Habana, fue inaugurada el 9 de junio de 1951.

El Encanto Store, Corner Galiano y San Rafael, La Habana, ca. 1935

El Encanto Store, Corner Galiano y San Rafael, La Habana, ca. 1935

Flogar, Galiano y San Rafael.,ca. 1956

Flogar, Galiano y San Rafael.,ca. 1956

Cuba Travel Magazine

Cuba Travel Magazine

Havana Restaurant near the port, 1954 - Restaurante en el puerto cerca de la aduana, La Habana, Ca. 1954

Havana Restaurant near the port, 1954 –
Restaurante en el puerto cerca de la aduana, La Habana, Ca. 1954

Ave. Carlos Tercero, 1952 - Avenida Carlos III, La Habana, Ca. 1952

Ave. Carlos Tercero, 1952 –
Avenida Carlos III, La Habana, Ca. 1952

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana en construcción, principios de década 1950 - Havana Fine Arts Museum, under construction 1950s

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana en construcción, principios de década 1950 –
Havana Fine Arts Museum, under construction 1950s

Western Union office in Havana, on Obispo Street, 1952 - Entrada a la oficina de la Western Union en la calle Obispo, La Habana, Marzo de 1952

Western Union office in Havana, on Obispo Street, 1952 –
Entrada a la oficina de la Western Union en la calle Obispo, La Habana, Marzo de 1952

Havana Hilton View of Vedado (Today the Habana Libre Hotel) - Vista desde el Habana Hilton (hoy Habana Libre), Vedado 1958

Havana Hilton View of Vedado (Today the Habana Libre Hotel) –
Vista desde el Habana Hilton (hoy Habana Libre), Vedado 1958

Havana Carnival, 1976 - Carroza de los Carnavales de 1976, Vedado, La Habana

Havana Carnival, 1976 –
Carroza de los Carnavales de 1976, Vedado, La Habana

Construction of the Havana Tunnel, 1955 - Construcción del túnel de La Habana, 1955

Construction of the Havana Tunnel, 1955 –
Construcción del túnel de La Habana, 1955

Habana Hilton (Habana Libre), ca. 1958.

Habana Hilton (Habana Libre), ca. 1958.

Teatro Rodi (Now called Mella) Linea Street, Vedado, La Habana

Teatro Rodi (Now called Mella) Linea Street, Vedado, La Habana

United States Embassy in Vedado, 1955

United States Embassy in Vedado, 1955 – Embajada de Estados Unidos en el Vedado, La Habana c. 1955.

Corner of 23 and L, 1950 - Esquina de 23 y L, Vedado, a principios de década 1950.

Corner of 23 and L, 1950 –
Esquina de 23 y L, Vedado, a principios de década 1950.

Bajos del Focsa en el Vedado, La Habana ca. 1958 First floor of the Focsa building. 1958

Bajos del Focsa en el Vedado, La Habana ca. 1958
First floor of the Focsa building. 1958

Calle 1ra, Miramar, La Habana, 1976

Calle 1ra, Miramar, La Habana, 1976

Hotel Capri, Vedado, La Habana, 1964

Hotel Capri, Vedado, La Habana, 1964

Teatro Nacional de Cuba, under construction, 1959, La Habana

Teatro Nacional de Cuba, under construction, 1959, La Habana

Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes "San Alejandro", La Habana, Cuba - National School of Fine Arts, Havana.

Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes “San Alejandro”, La Habana, Cuba –
National School of Fine Arts, Havana.

Parque Zayas y Palacio Presidencial, La Habana, ca. 1948

Parque Zayas y Palacio Presidencial, La Habana, ca. 1948

Construction of the Cubalse building in Miramar (La Puntilla) 1976

Construction of the Cubalse building in Miramar (La Puntilla) 1976 –
Construccion del edificio de cubalse en 1976, La Puntilla, Miramar, La Habana

5th Avenue, Miramar, 1950 - 5ta avenida Miramar, La Habana, Ca.1950

5th Avenue, Miramar, 1950 –
5ta avenida Miramar, La Habana, Ca.1950

Area around the Presidential Palace, 1957 - Area por detras de Palacio Presidencial, con el nuevo Palacio de Bellas Artes y el Hotel Sevilla, La Habana, Circa. 1957.

Area around the Presidential Palace, 1957 –
Area por detras de Palacio Presidencial, con el nuevo Palacio de Bellas Artes y el Hotel Sevilla, La Habana, Circa. 1957.

 

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By |2023-03-02T00:22:32+00:00February 25th, 2015|Photo|10 Comments

10 Comments

  1. Herman Krieger December 8, 2015 at 3:03 am - Reply

    “See Havana in 2012”
    http://www.efn.org/~hkrieger/cuba.htm

  2. Kenneth D Steidley April 7, 2016 at 9:27 pm - Reply

    Love your photos. I am preparing an article on visits to Cuba in 1948 and 1955 for a convention by a postage stamp society. What are the chances I could use 1 or 2 of these for Illustrations. Full credit of course. likely publish in the American Philatelist.

    • Mario April 7, 2016 at 9:51 pm - Reply

      Hi, the photos are not mine. I found them on the internet. They have been reposted online hundreds of times. I have no idea who the original photographer is. I am sure you can use them for whatever you need. I know of many people who have used them for all sorts of projects. Have fun and enjoy the beauty of Havana.

      Mario

  3. Rosa de los Santos May 3, 2017 at 2:23 pm - Reply

    Beautiful images. Good that there is https://bestcubaguide.com/ you really are the best.

  4. Mirta Alonso Ransom June 15, 2018 at 4:51 pm - Reply

    Gracias por traerme bellos recuerdos de mi Cuba Bella. Mirta

  5. Myke June 17, 2019 at 1:31 pm - Reply

    Great stuff…

  6. Renie July 30, 2019 at 11:52 pm - Reply

    So many happy memories of my childhood even showed my burrough Pueblo Nuevo back in 1952 on Ave. CARLOS III. Wonderful pics.

  7. John September 13, 2019 at 5:58 pm - Reply

    Apparently car designs were not keeping pace with the modern architecture of the city . Havana was a beautiful and cosmopolitan city .

  8. Rigo March 4, 2021 at 12:20 am - Reply

    The Black & White pictures were taken in the 1950’s not the 60’s

  9. Toni Kay Thompson January 7, 2024 at 3:25 am - Reply

    I grew up in Havana during the early “1940’s thru the late 1960’s. This was my HOME and my adopted country. How I miss it, and the lifestyle at that time.

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