[1] Established in the early 1520s in Habana Vieja, the Plaza de las Armas was designed to serve as the original main square for the military and government in Havana.

[2] As Spanish custom when they laid out a new town, open space was reserved for a public square when the city was founded in 1519.

[3] The Governor's Palace was situated on Plaza de Armas and occupied one whole side of the square.

[6] In 1896, the square was described as consisting of four parks with Ceiba trees and a marble statue of Ferdinand VII in the center.

[7] Ramón Blanco was the last Spanish captain-general to occupy the site, and after 1899, it became the executive seat of the Cuban government.