1955 Instituto Cartografico Nacional City Plan or Map of Havana, Cuba

This is a 1955 Instituto Cartográfico Nacional city plan or map of Havana (La Habana), Cuba issued at the height of the Cuban Revolution (1953 - 1959). This map was compiled by the Batista regime and its U.S. allies to help strategize defense against the encroaching Revolutionaries under Fidel Castro. Streets are illustrated throughout and buildings outside the main city center are depicted ichnographically. The city's fortresses are illustrated and labeled, along with its port and railway network. Depth soundings are provided in the Strait of Florida and Havana Bay.

Cuban Revolution

The Cuban Revolution or Revolución Cubana was an armed revolt under the socialist inspired leadership of Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement and its allies against the military dictatorship of Cuban President Fulgencio Batista. From July 1953, the Revolution progressed sporadically, but Batista was finally outed on December 31, 1958. The 26th of July Movement later reformed along communist lines, becoming the Communist Party in October 1965. The revolution realigned Cuba with Communist powers, like China and Russia, and set it against the nearby United States, with whom it had previously held close ties. Under the threat of communism, wealthy business magnates and statesman fled Cuba, many resettling in Mexico, Florida, and Europe. Cuba is still dealing with the repercussions of the revolution today.

Publication History and Census

This map was created by the Instituto Cartográfico Nacional from aerial photographs provided by the United States Air Force and published in 1955. The OCLC catalogues one example as being part of in the institutional collection at Michigan State University.