The José Martí Memorial was inaugurated by Fidel on January 27, 1996, at the base of the obelisk that presides over the Revolution Square in Havana; undoubtedly the largest monument dedicated to the National Hero in the world.
It was Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz who promoted the idea of creating a permanent center of reference there for the mastermind behind the assault on the Moncada Barracks. In 1995, on the centenary of José Martí's death in combat, the proposal began to take shape.
At the end of the inaugural tour, Fidel said: "One feels satisfaction that a man like him has received such a beautiful, aesthetic tribute, because the combination of everything here is truly beautiful. The design has been excellent, so now we have a Memorial, which we thought we had, because there was a Monument and the star. I think many people will come to see it; there will not be a citizen who does not come to this place."
That is why the Memorial complex, the obelisk, and the square constitute one of the most important locations dedicated to honoring the Apostle, not only because of its majestic height, but also because of its historical significance.
The preservation and dissemination of various valuable documents and photographs, which show the different periods of the Master's life, as well as the continuity of his immense work in the Cuban Revolution, is the main purpose of the José Martí Memorial Museum.
Thirty years after its founding, it remains an emblematic site for the Cuban nation.
