Cuban Memorial Park is located just south of Calle Ocho along SW 13th Ave in Little Havana in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Throughout the park are a series of monuments to Cuban and Cuban American icons. The park was created to serve as a place to remember those who fought for freedom and perished during the Cuban Revolution.
At the entrance to the park is the Eternal Torch in Honor of the 2506th Brigade in honor of the exiles who died during the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The invasion during the height of the Cold War in April of 1961 was a failed military military operation on the southwest coast of Cuba led by the Cuban Democratic Revolutionary Front, a group of Cuban exiles who attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro. The monument was dedicated in 1971 as an Eternal Torch that burns for those who fell fighting for freedom in the Cuban Revolution.
Other monuments in the park include a silhouette of a soldier dedicated to the anti-communist guerrilla that took place in Cuba from 1960-1966. This memorial honors the men and women who fought with weapons against the Castro regime. Near by is bronze statue of Nestor "Tony" Izquierdo, who was a Cuban revolutionary hero. A few steps down is a statue of the Virgin Mary, important for members of the Santeria faith It is said that the statue is illuminated by a shaft of holy light every afternoon. Also sacred to the religion is a huge ceiba tree in the middle of the park. Other monuments include a map of Cuba with a quote from José Martí and a José Martí memorial dedicated to a man considered to be a Cuban national hero. Many parks and monuments throughout South Florida are named in his honor. He was a poet, revolutionary philosopher, writer, journalist, translator, professor, and publisher. He dedicated his life to the promotion of liberty and political independence for Cuba. His death during a battle against Spanish troops at the Battle of Dos Ríos was used to rally people to the cause of the independence of Cuba from Spain.
Cuban Memorial Park serves as a hub for the Calle Ocho Music Festival featuring music, dancing, art and food. The park has also been the site of many political demonstrations through the years. Cuban Memorial Park is a great spot for visitors to Little Havana to fill in the gaps in human history. I also enjoyed seeing all of the roosters and chickens, especially the adorable chicks. The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs are welcome. read more