Napoleon Museum (Havana)

The Napoleon Museum (Museo Napoleónico) in Havana, Cuba, houses one of the most significant collections of Napoleonic-era artifacts outside of Europe. Located in a Florentine-style palace originally built for a sugar baron, the museum's collection was largely amassed by Julio Lobo, a wealthy Cuban industrialist and art collector. After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Lobo's properties were nationalized, and his extensive Napoleon-related items were curated into the museum.

The collection includes over 7,000 objects, featuring paintings, sculptures, furniture, weaponry, uniforms, documents, and personal effects related to Napoleon Bonaparte and his era (late 18th and early 19th centuries). Notable items include Napoleon's death mask, various maps and military plans, and pieces of clothing and furniture that belonged to the Emperor. The museum also boasts a library with thousands of books documenting Napoleonic history and art.

The museum is organized across several floors of the palace, with exhibits thematically arranged to showcase different aspects of Napoleon's life, military campaigns, and the political and social context of his reign. Visitors can explore rooms dedicated to military history, decorative arts, and personal collections. The building itself, with its ornate architecture and period furnishings, adds to the overall experience of stepping back in time to the Napoleonic era.

The Napoleon Museum is a popular tourist destination in Havana and a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in Napoleonic history. It provides a comprehensive overview of Napoleon's life and legacy, reflecting Cuba's unexpected role as custodian of a significant piece of European history.