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.
El Obelisco”, Ave. 31 y 100, Marianao, La Habana, Ca. 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
Prado y Neptuno, Hotel Telégrafo, La Habana, Ca. 1955
Heladería Coppelia, Vedado, La Habana, Ca. 1966.
George Raft at Casino de Capri. Havana, Cuba March 1958
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.
Infanta y San Lázaro, La Habana, 1952
La Rampa, La Habana, ca. 1973
Hotel Habana Riviera en 1957, Vedado, La Habana.
Avenida de los Presidentes, La Habana, 1975
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.
Sierra Maestra Building, Miramar, La Habana 1973
5th Avenue, Miramar
Salon Cristal on Prado street, 1957 –
Salón Cristal en Prado y Virtudes, La Habana Ca. 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.
El Encanto Store, Corner Galiano y San Rafael, La Habana, ca. 1935
Flogar, Galiano y San Rafael.,ca. 1956
Cuba Travel Magazine
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
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
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
Construction of the Havana Tunnel, 1955 –
Construcción del túnel de La Habana, 1955
Habana Hilton (Habana Libre), ca. 1958.
Teatro Rodi (Now called Mella) Linea Street, Vedado, La Habana
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.
Bajos del Focsa en el Vedado, La Habana ca. 1958
First floor of the Focsa building. 1958
Calle 1ra, Miramar, La Habana, 1976
Hotel Capri, Vedado, La Habana, 1964
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.
Parque Zayas y Palacio Presidencial, La Habana, ca. 1948
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
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.
Want to explore Havana on your own, from a locals perspective? Don’t be a tourist in Cuba – Learn all about the Real Havana!
Download the Best Cuba and Havana Travel guide: Real Havana.
“See Havana in 2012”
http://www.efn.org/~hkrieger/cuba.htm
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.
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
Beautiful images. Good that there is https://bestcubaguide.com/ you really are the best.
Gracias por traerme bellos recuerdos de mi Cuba Bella. Mirta
Great stuff…
So many happy memories of my childhood even showed my burrough Pueblo Nuevo back in 1952 on Ave. CARLOS III. Wonderful pics.
Apparently car designs were not keeping pace with the modern architecture of the city . Havana was a beautiful and cosmopolitan city .
The Black & White pictures were taken in the 1950’s not the 60’s
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.