1867. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso is born in Cerro, Havana.

He became the youngest of the Cuban generals to fall in Cuba's wars for independence in the nineteenth century. His paternal influence played a decisive role in shaping his character and his decision to serve the cause of his homeland. Over time he graduated as a doctor and went to practice this profession in the town of Vega Alta, in the then province of Las Villas. It was precisely in this area of ​​Cuba that on April 25, 1895 he took up arms together with other patriots. From that moment he evidenced his audacity and courage.

He participated in more than 40 combats and showed a high degree of courage and military discipline. Along with Major General Antonio Maceo, he arrived in Mantua on January 22, 1896 and was one of the signatories of the document signed in Mangos de Roque detailing the successful completion of the invasion.

After following orders from Maceo, he returned to the province of Las Villas with the aim of reorganizing the forces operating in that territory and at the same time looking for reinforcements to move them to Pinar del Río. After completing this mission, he left again for the westernmost area of ​​Cuba, but on July 30, 1896, he fell in a confrontation with Spanish forces near the town of Quivicán, then a province of Havana. At that time he already held the rank of Major General that had been conferred on him in April by Generalissimo Máximo Gómez.

1884. The Irijoa Theater is inaugurated in Havana.

Conceived as a summer coliseum and called in its early years "The Theater of a Hundred Doors", this Havana scenic space is currently the oldest preserved in the Cuban capital. The 1901 Constitutional Convention was held in its room. That same year this cultural facility was renamed José Martí. Puccini's Opera Tosca premiered on its stage. However, the Cuban vernacular genre found its space and audience there since the end of the 19th century, a glory that it shared with the Alhambra Theater during the first third of the 20th century.

The installation also featured the famous season of the Jorge Arckermann group, which unveiled the successful works “I'm going down” and “God save you, commissioner” by Enrique Núñez Rodríguez, and the “Premio Flaco” by Héctor Quintero.

This cultural venue was closed for several decades until it was reopened on February 24, 2014.

Due to its high historical and cultural value, this building has been declared a National Monument.