Produce Exchange Building, Commercial exchange building in Old Havana, Cuba
The Produce Exchange Building is a six-story commercial structure with a square base, Renaissance architectural elements, and a dome crowned by a Mercury statue. The ground floor originally housed warehouses while upper levels contained offices for customs brokers and trading companies.
The building was constructed in 1909 as a commodity exchange for agricultural products and functioned as a central trading hub. Following the Cuban Revolution of 1959, its role changed, but the structure remained.
The building displays a mix of European architectural styles that reflect the international trade connections of the early 1900s. Visitors can still see the refined details that marked it as a center of economic importance in its era.
Access is located in Old Havana where streets are narrow and cobblestone-paved. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and be aware that stairs and elevators in older buildings may be narrow or steep.
The steel framework was designed by American firm Purdy and Henderson, bringing modern construction methods to early 1900s Cuba. This technical innovation was notable for the region at the time and showed the international engineering standards used in this trading center.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
