The Provincial Historic Archive of Santiago de Cuba now occupies the space that was the old bivouac, penal institution with a bitter role in the history of the province. Photos of the author
Enter the Provincial Historic Archive of Santiago de Cuba is to a small universe where the most interesting stories are found. The aged building stands on Calle Aguilera, just above the point where it joins another road known, Padre Pico.
It contrasting walk inside patio, appreciate its red tiles, columns and arches. However, to retrace their brokers become visible some signs that lift the veils of time. So the old eyes appear to cells where prisoners were men and women whose names fill with glory to this land.
Frank Pais
"Frank was imprisoned here on several occasions between 1956 and 1957." So said the MSc. Alfredo Sanchez Falcon, Fototeca specialist: "Citizenship of Santiago de Cuba paid Frank to stay in a cell that was preferred, ie, it departed from the common prisoners to have a differential treatment."

"We remember these moments because they were taken from the press. That is, every time that Frank was held here in the press a report was made and the investigation did this search, so we know who was here on several occasions. In addition, he spoke of fellow stay in the cell of choice and all the treatment given to him until his assassination. "
Distinction room where prisoners were Frank Pais and other revolutionary youth and student movement, on the second floor of the building that now shelters the Historical Archives of Santiago de Cuba.
"The story of Frank, the religious man, musician, poet, teacher ... the unknown man for many people ... and that man from jail, from a window of this place made a drawing that few artists would be able to, with all details leading this building, which are many, of course, all the ceilings, fireplaces that had the building at the time, everything is wearing a colonial building, Frank was able to draw it. This drawing, small, done in charcoal, is in the museum's collection Frank Pais but is not on display. "
And it is that Frank País was not only the revolutionary leader, was much more. "He was the man in love with girls who had in Santiago de Cuba, the man in love with life because I did not expect to go so fast, only 23 years; man eager to liberate this country, and that man was here at the bivouac. "

Other stories that keeps Bivac

Anyilena Rivero Gonzalez, a specialist in Communication File that "the first building that existed in this place was the St. Catherine Church, built in 1515 and destroyed by fire years later. In the mid-17th century the City begins to appreciate the need to build a prison on this site but it was not until November 17, 1845 that the Royal Prison opens. In his prison cell they kept fighters for the independence of Cuba as Perucho Figueredo, Advocate, writer and author of the lyrics and music of the national anthem, the patriot and intellectual Santiago Emilio Bacardi and the English artist Walter Goodman. "
The July 26, 1978 is inaugurated in ancient Bivouac Historical Museum, at the initiative of Arturo Duque de Estrada, president of the Provincial Commission of Monuments.
A name has transcended to our days and is now used to refer to this building. The specialist in Communication and says: "With the establishment of the Republic on May 20, 1902, the prison became a name that has endured to this day: Bivouac, a name that was associated with the constant presence of troops here. In 1906 it is designated as Provincial Jail until 1919, when was inaugurated Boniato Prison, in the Republican period.
Go Through his outstanding revolutionary cells as Antonio Guiteras, the assailants on the Moncada Barracks Haydee Santamaria, Melba Hernandez, Raul Castro, Juan Almeida, Julio Diaz, Armando Mestre. Also members of the Movement July 26 Frank País, Otto Parellada, Fernando Vecino Alegre, Pepito Tey, Tony Aloma and Vilma Espin. "
This property continued to perform the functions of prison until late 1968, when it is transferred to the Academy of Sciences until 1975. His inauguration Historical Museum was the July 26, 1978, and July 30, 1999, made his opening and Conservative Municipal Archives of the City. And in March 2009 the municipal and provincial merge files, and March 9, 2011 becomes an institution of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment