The Knight Who Saved Havana

By Ron Infante

Illustration by Emilio Cruañas Pérez

For many years, a loyal knight served and protected Havana. Giving his soul and finest effort to keep Havana’s historical district alive, this brave and swordless warrior took the city forward against all odds and detractors. A fierce defender of the Cuban heritage, and a true patriot, it’s hard to find a Cuban who hasn't heard of his heroic deeds. 

And the name of this valiant knight, defender, and patriot? Eusebio Leal Spengler. Born on September 11, 1942, in Havana, Leal dropped out of school in the sixth grade in order to help support his mother. He held a number of menial jobs such as delivery boy for the Calixto Garcia Hospital pharmacy, grocery store clerk, and also worked on a chicken farm. A simple but curious boy, he grew into a man whose heart and soul would forever be present in his home city.

Leal was only a teen when he joined the Cuban revolution led by Fidel Castro that would overthrow the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959. During this time, he even stole documents from a police station which included information about Fidel and Raul.

After the revolution’s triumph, Leal studied independently from books he purchased himself, something he had been doing ever since he dropped out of school. Eventually, he finished elementary school thanks to the public education policies of the revolution. Through his job in the city, he was introduced to Emilio Roig de Leuchsenring, Havana’s first historian. Roig took Leal under his wing and after Roig’s death in 1964, Leal took over his mentor’s job in the Office of the Historian of Havana.

Leal took it upon himself to teach all Cubans the importance of history. He made history accessible and interesting by bringing it to the people. One time, he took artifacts of Cuba’s independence wars such as Maximo Gomez’s war machete and a leather canon from the Museum of the City to Cubans in rural provinces. Leal’s goal was to create a consciousness and awareness of heritage.

Eusebio Leal in Old Havana - Photo from eusebioleal.cu

One of his biggest obstacles came in 1991 when, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba suffered economic hardship. As a result, government funding and resources for Old Havana’s restoration became scarce. Against fierce opposition of some members of Cuba’s National Assembly, Leal, with Castro’s support, fought for and won passage of a bill to fund the restoration.

Leal was accorded unparalleled freedom from government intervention, including a grant of $1 million in seed money for the restoration. The revitalization project became a major success story that became self-sustaining with commercial businesses set up in the area contributing by sending part of their profits into the restoration fund. He also established several companies to draw foreign investment into the country. This included Habaguanex S.A., a tourist management company that owned hotels and restaurants. With these revenues, Leal was able to fund community projects and massive restoration endeavors all over historical sites and lower-income neighborhoods. 

Leal always insisted that a symbiotic relationship between Cubans and tourism was key to running a sustainable city and to avoid gentrification. He argued that tourists needed to be aware of the contribution they were making and that Cubans needed to appreciate tourists who came to admire the country’s heritage. He wanted both Cubans and tourists to understand the vital importance they each played in the cultural and economic development of Havana’s historical district.

Leal’s innovative thinking made Habaguanex thrive as well as the City Master Plan, a multidisciplinary committee overseeing the integral development of Old Havana. As a result, years after the implementation of the new structure, the Network of Offices of the Historian and the Curator of the Heritage Cities of Cuba was created in order to share the positive experience on the preservation of the country’s heritage. Leal’s spirit and ideas that were inspired by the beauty of a city became a model for future generations. He was a bridge to the past, an eternal seeker of the truth and, above all, a lover of beauty in all its forms. These actions and beliefs are what truly make Leal the knight who saved Havana in the eyes of many.

Palacio de los Capitanes Generales in Havana - Photo by Carlos Bohorquez Nassar

Leal in Spanish means loyal and he was just that, a loyal knight at the service of Cuba and its history. Listening to him speak was like admiring a Monet, he would take you back in time with his capacious harangue and immaculate delivery of anecdotes. Now Cuba mourns the loss of its defender, who died on July 31, at the age of 77. However, his immense labor and legacy will outlive him as Cuba continues to thank and appreciate him for his service and will never forget his loyalty to their beloved country.