Address: Calle 33 e / 26 and 28 Nueva Gerona
The Pinero ship was built in 1901 in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, United States. It was meant initially to be a battleship with steel hull, but several years after it caught fire, its owners decided to make it passenger and freight boat.
In 1926 it arrived to the island and was the first vessel in the territory with engine oil.
This boat carried all the materials used in construction, manpower and resources for the Presidio Modelo. For many years, it was the main way of communication, shipping grapefruit, melons, sugar, marble, etc.., up to four cars in its cargo cover, and a capacity for about 160 passengers. The journey took about 8 hours to the port of Batabano Surgidero (south of the province of Havana) with a regularity of 3 times a week. The cost of the ticket was 3 dollars per passenger, food and cabin not included.
It continued working until May 15th, 1955 when it made its most significant journey. As the only passengers were young Moncadistas
after their release from prison. On board they reunited with Fidel Castro and his comrades and “July 26 “was chosen as the name of the new revolutionary movement.
For this reason, on October 10th, 1978 by resolution of the Ministry of Culture, the ship was declared a National Monument. Its hull is on the banks of the river Las Casas, actually the Memorial square “El Pinero”, opened on March 13th, 2005. |
