CASA DE LA CIENCIA ALEJANDRO DE HUMBOLDT

Opened in 1997, the House of Science is a beautiful house that hosted the German scientist Alexander Von Humboldt (1769-1859) during his multiple stays in Cuba, some 200 years ago. The House of Science has been completely restored and owes its existence to a project that brought together the Oficina del Historiador de la Ciudad, the Goethe Institute, descendants of the famous naturalist, and other German and Cuban institutions. More than 250 objects (scientific instruments, books, maps and objects) recall Humboldt's stays in Cuba. Humboldt installed his scientific instruments and the different botanical and mineralogical collections during his first visit to Havana, from December 19, 1800 to March 15, 1801. As a result of these trips (where he spent all his resources), he published 34 volumes in 20 years. Having had access to important information on the island's science, trade, agriculture and finance, he published, in 1826, his Ensayo político sobre la Isla de Cuba(Political Essay on the Island of Cuba), one of the first major socio-economic analyses of the country. Later, the work was banned by the Spanish colonial government, because of its denunciation of slavery as "the greatest of all the evils that have befallen mankind". Humboldt, very well known in the island, was nicknamed the second discoverer of Cuba. A street in Havana is named after him, as well as a school that offers German courses.