Images of Cárdenas

Images of the 1930's, 40's & 50's

Give this animated drawing of the Cárdenas Parish Church time to develop
and you'll see the Horse and Carriage come trotting by. Do you notice the bells?

• Select the appropraite Camera Icon:

  The 1953 Cárdenas Skyline, looking southwest from the bay at the "Espigón," with the Monument to the Cuban Flag and Customs building in the foreground. The bell towers and cupola of the Catholic Parrish Church are visible down de Cespedes Avenue or "Calle Real". Jose Arechabala, S.A. En Su 75 Aniversario 1878-1953, 1954;
  

  This is the view looking in the opposite direction from the skyline photo above. The photo looks northeast over the "Espigón", from the customs building, with the Monument in the left center of the photo and four ships in port taking on sugar and other cargo from the Arechabala refinery. You can also see the Havana Club Rum sign, an Arechabala brand name that has been appropriated by the Castro government (1953).Jose Arechabala, S.A. En Su 75 Aniversario 1878-1953, 1954;
  

  A view to the north from the customs building. The photo depicts the marina and partial view if the coastline drive, parks, walks and green areas built by Arechabala Industries for the city between 1939 and 1945. The clubhouse for the company's employees is visible in the top right quadrant of the photo and the impressive Arechabala refinery is partially visible in the background (1953). Jose Arechabala, S.A. En Su 75 Aniversario 1878-1953, 1954;
  

  Looking southeast, at ground level, from the "center" of town, down the main avenue. Flying the Cuban flag is the renowned hotel, restaurant and bar, "La Dominica. The photographer was standing in the middle of Colón Park with the Parrish Church to his right and the Hotel Europa and Cárdenas' "Casino Español" to his left. (In the next section you will see photos depicting the heartbreaking present state of those buildings.) Gonzalez-Miró, Real y Princesa Publishers, Post Card made by E.C. Kropp Co. Milwaukee, Wis
  

  A view of the activity on the corner of Real and Calzada, in the mid-1930's. Post card #13769N published by Domingo Gonzalez, Cespedes No. 155, Cárdenas
  

  View looking north from the roof of the Hotel Europa in the 1930's. Visible in the foreground are Colón Park, the Nuñez Bank, the Cárdenas Masons' Lodge and, in the background, Arechabala Industries and the Bay of Cárdenas. Michelena post card #84544 San Juan de Dios 270, Cárdenas
  

  Estrada Palma Park and City Hall. Gonzalez-Miró, Real y Princesa Publishers, post card #1434N made by E.C. Kropp Co. Milwaukee, Wis
  

  Looking northwest on Calle Real in front of the Cárdenas Theatre. A pleasant colorized photo post card depicting the commerce, automotive activity and color of Cárdenas in the early fifties. This state of the art theatre for its times could seat 2600 patrons. Gonzalez-Miró, Real y Princesa Publishers, Post Card made by E.C. Kropp Co. Milwaukee, Wis
  

  A view of Calle Real from overhead, with rooftops in the foreground and the cathedral in the background. Gonzalez-Miró, Real y Princesa Publishers, Post Card made by E.C. Kropp Co. Milwaukee, Wis
  

  Folks fishing on the shore. The bridge was the first vertical drawbridge in Cuba. The car is probably still rolling in Cuba somewhere. Edicones Miró Post Card, Cárdenas
  

  Locally built ships docked at the Espigón (1953). Jose Arechabala, S.A. En Su 75 Aniversario 1878-1953, 1954;
  

  This is part of the commerce that has come to a virtual standstill at the Espigón. In the next section you will see a "comparative" photo taken in 1993 (1953). Jose Arechabala, S.A. En Su 75 Aniversario 1878-1953, 1954;
  

  Friends of the owner of "Viveres San Carlos", a small retail grocery store, gather to celebrate the Grand Opening of the store in January, 1960. Little did they know that this small business, along with thousands of similar ones in Cuba, would soon be confiscated or ("intervened") by the new government of Fidel Castro. What do you think of the difference between Cuban grocery stores of the times and those that the government operates for Cubans today? How about the appearance of the Cuban people themselves? THANKS for what FIDEL? Our appreciation to José A. Maruri for the photo;
  

Continue: [Early Images] [Images of the Present, under Castro]
[INDEX]