Introduction:

The Royal Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Havana was founded in 1861. It occupied the convent of Saint Augustine from 1868 to 1898. With the arrival of the Republic, the academy lost the denomination of royal but it kept the old building that was rebuilt from the ground. In 1962, the institution disappeared and the Museum of History of Sciences Carlos J. Finlay was founded and occupied the building, adapting it to the new function. In 2011, the Museum was closed down. The Cuban Academy of Sciences whose formation process started in 1961 moved into the building in 2012. Objectives: To describe the uses of the building from the beginning to the present day; to characterize the Royal Academy of Sciences, to review the nature and importance of the heritage that the institution harbors.

Methods:

Bibliographical and documental review. Observation and photography.

Results:

The Royal Academy of Sciences was the result of the development of science in Cuba and the expression of the Cuban nationality. There is practically nothing kept from the original building, but there is much scientific heritage related to the Royal Academy. The academy of Sciences of Havana constructed practically a new building according to its needs. The Museum of History of Sciences Carlos J. Finlay was the creator of the present-day features of the building. Conclusions: The heritage of the first academies of sciences, particularly the Royal one, is supposed to be conserved and socialized in a museum to be founded.

        · resumo em Espanhol     · texto em Espanhol     · Espanhol ( pdf )