Museo Municipal del Fuerte Matachín, Guantanamo Province, Cuba

4mrancer 5:00 PM Dec 5, 2015

The city's historical museum - gives a good overview of the development of the area
This is a pretty small museum in a pretty small town, but it gives a good overview of one of Cuba's unique locations. This was one of Columbus' first landing sites on his first voyage and for nearly 5 centuries after, Baracoa was still not accessible by land. That didn't change until the 1960s, so up to then it could only be reached by sea. As a result any development that took place had to reflect that fact. Accordingly the museum casts its exhibits in the context of an isolated settlement that looked outward toward the ocean rather than inward toward the rest of Cuba. The museum explains how the town grew, who settled there, what they produced for sale to the rest of the world, and the eventual collapse as the world passed it by. Spend an hour in the museum and you will better understand Baracoa.

3TerryHerkner 5:00 PM May 2, 2016

Small but informative museum. Baracoa is home to the indigenous people,isolated till 60's.
This is worth an hour or so in. The signage is in English and Spanish and gives a perspective on life of a city isolated from the rest of Cuba as there was no access except by sea until the 1960's. It's the first place the Spanish landed and Columbus declared it the most beautiful place he had seen. Local customs, flora and fauna. They have good souvenirs too.